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There is solid evidence that following a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is associated with better overall health and lower mortality. But what are the biological mechanisms behind these beneficial effects? This is exactly what a recent study researched. To carry it out, the researchers followed a multi-ethnic sample of more than 25,000 women for 25 years, assessed their adherence to the MedDiet, and obtained biological samples from which biomarker measurements were performed. The results showed that several factors contribute to the protective effect of the MedDiet against certain pathologies and mortality. For example, several cardiometabolic risk factors, including biomarkers related to metabolism, inflammation, TRL pathways, insulin resistance, and BMI, may contribute to the reduced risk of mortality when this diet is followed.
But these are not the only factors mediating the beneficial effects of the MedDiet. Other researchers conducted a study with 101 patients at high risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Participants were randomly assigned to a MedDiet or to a Low-fat diet (LFD) and followed every three months for 12 months. At six months of follow-up, subjects in the MedDiet group had significantly lower total cholesterol levels and showed an increase in the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), compared to participants in the LFD group. Lower levels of this index have been correlated with CV risk factors. Also, levels of resistin and visfatin (proteins related to insulin sensitivity and inflammation) dropped compared to the LFD group, and an improvement in the values and profile of some ceramides (a type of lipids related to CV risk) was also observed. After 12 months of follow-up, these changes remained, and significant lower levels of LDL cholesterol were also observed.
Even though there may be more factors and metabolites currently unknown contributing to the beneficial effects of the MedDiet, there is sufficient evidence to support close adherence to this diet.
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