Mediterranean Diet and Atherothrombosis Biomarkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Álvaro Hernáez, Olga Castañer, Anna Tresserra‐Rimbau, Xavier Pintó, Montserrat Fitó, Rosa Casas, Miguel Ángel Martínez‐González, Dolores Corella, Jordi Salas‐Salvadó, José Lapetra, Enrique Gómez‐Gracia, Fernando Arós, Miquel Fiol, Lluís Serra‐Majem, Emilio Ros, Ramón Estruch
Abstract
Scope To assess whether following a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) improves atherothrombosis biomarkers in high cardiovascular risk individuals. Methods and results In 358 random volunteers from the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea trial, the 1‐year effects on atherothrombosis markers of an intervention with MedDiet, enriched with virgin olive oil (MedDiet‐VOO; n = 120) or nuts (MedDiet‐Nuts; n = 119) versus a low‐fat control diet ( n = 119), and whether large increments in MedDiet adherence (≥3 score points, versus compliance decreases) and intake changes in key food items are associated with 1‐year differences in biomarkers. Differences are observed between 1‐year changes in the MedDiet‐VOO intervention and control diet on the activity of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase in high‐density lipoproteins (HDLs) (+7.5% [95% confidence interval: 0.17; 14.8]) and HDL‐bound α 1 ‐antitrypsin levels (−6.1% [−11.8; −0.29]), and between the MedDiet‐Nuts intervention and the control arm on non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations (−9.3% [−18.1; −0.53]). Large MedDiet adherence increments are associated with less fibrinogen (−9.5% [−18.3; −0.60]) and non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations (−16.7% [−31.7; −1.74]). Increases in nut, fruit, vegetable, and fatty fish consumption, and decreases in processed meat intake are linked to enhancements in biomarkers. Conclusion MedDiet improves atherothrombosis biomarkers in high cardiovascular risk individuals.