Mediterranean diet and prevention of cardiovascular disease

A large randomized trial compared three diets in patients at high cardiovascular risk

·        A Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil

·        A Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts

·        Advice to reduce dietary fat 

For the primary composite cardiovascular endpoint of heart attack, paralysis, and sudden death event rates were similar for the Mediterranean diets supplemented with olive oil and mixed nuts, and lower than for the control diet. Although this trial suggests possible substantial cardiovascular benefits from a Mediterranean diet, there was a surprisingly large reduction in events, a low total number of events, and the trial was stopped early for benefit after a median follow-up of 4.8 years.  

A Mediterranean diet is typically high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds and includes olive oil as an important source of fat; there are typically low to moderate amounts of fish, poultry and dairy products, and there is little red meat.