This week on OHIS

This week on the Olive Health Information System website

The newsletter of the University of Navarra and the IOC dedicated to health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Several dietary patterns have been proposed to mitigate CVD risk, with the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) emerging as one of the most recommended. Adherence to the MedDiet is characterized by a high consumption of plant-based foods and olive oil as the main culinary fat. This week, we bring you an umbrella review of 18 meta-analyses of randomized control trials, regarding the health benefits of the MedDiet on CVD. This study highlights that adherence to the MedDiet could reduce fatal CVD outcome risk by 10%–67% and non-fatal CVD outcome risk by 21%–70%.  A systematic review indicated that following the MedDiet may help reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation. Also, the authors point to results from the PREDIMAR (PREvention of recurrent arrhythmias with Mediterranean diet) study in subjects with atrial fibrillation. In this study, participants who received remote nutritional intervention showed improvements in their dietary habits compared to the control group. These changes in dietary habits, which included better adherence to the MedDiet, played a pivotal role in reducing the risk and recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

The positive effects of the MedDiet in reducing the incidence and recurrence of cardiovascular events highlight its potential as a cornerstone of cardiovascular prevention strategies. Its benefits are not only limited to CVD prevention but also extend to other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions. A narrative review focused on dietary treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) highlights that the MedDiet could be a dietary model for T2DM due to its food items and nutritional components. These components exert lipid and glucose-lowering effect,  protect against oxidative stress, inflammation, and platelet aggregation, and modulate gut microbiota-mediated metabolite production affecting metabolic outcomes, among other benefits.  However, some challenges remain, as the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet can vary widely, thereby affecting the outcomes.

The MedDiet is a highly beneficial dietary pattern and can be more attainable for patients who struggle with more intensive intervention programs. Its benefits have been consistently demonstrated across various populations and settings, making it a critical component of public health strategies to reduce the global burden of CVD and other NCDs. Healthcare providers should consider recommending the MedDiet as part of a comprehensive lifestyle approach to managing cardiovascular risk, tailored to the individual needs and preferences of each patient.

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