Effects of the Mediterranean diet and exercise in subjects with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
The association of the Mediterranean diet and exercise appears to have a protective role, reducing cardiovascular risk. This study investigated the effects of education sessions on the Mediterranean diet and an exercise program in modifying eating behaviors, body composition and abdominal fat.


METHODS
An experimental study was performed on 20 subjects with known coronary heart disease randomly assigned to experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Both groups received education sessions on the Mediterranean diet, but the experimental group also followed an eight-week program of specific exercises. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered to analyze food intake, bioimpedance was used to measure weight, fat mass and lean mass, and waist circumference was measured to calculate waist-to-height ratio.


RESULTS
After eight weeks, protein (p<0.05) and cholesterol (p<0.05) intake in the experimental group had decreased significantly compared with the control group. Between the beginning and end of the study, there were significant decreases in the control group in carbohydrate (p<0.05) and saturated fat intake (p<0.05). In both groups the percentage of total fat (p<0.05) and fat mass (p<0.05) was significantly decreased. In the experimental group the waist-to-height ratio was significantly reduced (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Mediterranean diet reduced carbohydrate and saturated fat intake, reflected in reduced fat mass. The association of the exercise program showed additional benefits in reduction of protein and cholesterol intake and abdominal fat.
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto - Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Técnico-Científica de Fisioterapia, Porto, Portugal; Secção Autónoma de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: arn@estsp.ipp.pt.
Andreia
A
Noites
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto - Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Técnico-Científica de Fisioterapia, Porto, Portugal.
Joana
J
Pinto
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto - Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Técnico-Científica de Fisioterapia, Porto, Portugal; Hôpital du Jura bernois SA, Saint-Imier, Suíça.
Carla Patrícia
CP
Freitas
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto - Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Técnico-Científica de Fisioterapia, Porto, Portugal.
Cristina
C
Melo
Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, EPE, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Aníbal
A
Albuquerque
Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, EPE, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Madalena
M
Teixeira
Secção Autónoma de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
José
J
Mesquita Bastos
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000178:diet therapy*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D012307:Risk Factors
Cardiac rehabilitation; Cardiovascular disease; Dieta mediterrânica; Doenças cardiovasculares; Exercise program; Mediterranean diet; Programa de exercícios; Reabilitação cardiovascular