Preliminary results of one of the world's largest and longest dietary intervention studies indicated that the so-called Mediterranean Diet may reduce the risks of heart attack and cardiovascular disease by up to one half.

These results were outlined in an article entitled "Effects of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on Cardiovascular Risk Factors" that appears in the July 4 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

In the article, the researchers noted that high risk participants who improved their diet with vegetables, legumes, olive oil or nuts (especially walnuts) showed lower blood pressure, improved lipid profiles, decreased insulin resistance and reduced concentrations of inflammatory molecules compared with those allocated to a low-fat diet (American Heart Association guidelines).

"The early results of this clinical trial indicate that the Mediterranean diet pattern is ideal for cardiovascular disease prevention. What we knew before was scattered pieces of evidence from prospective studies.

The primary endpoint of this long-term study will be a composite outcome of cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke). The results to date make us believe, long term, the Mediterranean diet enriched with walnuts or olive oil will indeed reduce heart disease.

The size, duration and clinical basis of this study make it landmark," said Dr. Emilio Ros, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, and PREDIMED study co-investigator.

Source: PR Newswire