Mediterranean diet in low-risk, not high-risk for cardiovascular disease for avoiding death

[AlPater]

"Mediterranean diet ... in [high risk] individuals ... associations with all-cause (HR = 1.02; 95 % CI 0.90-1.15) and CV mortality (0.94; 95 % CI 0.76-1.15) were not significant."

 

 

Predictive role of the Mediterranean diet on mortality in individuals at low cardiovascular risk: a 12-year follow-up population-based cohort study.

Bo S, Ponzo V, Goitre I, Fadda M, Pezzana A, Beccuti G, Gambino R, Cassader M, Soldati L, Broglio F.

J Transl Med. 2016 Apr 12;14(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s12967-016-0851-7.

PMID: 27071746 Free Article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4830057/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4830057/pdf/12967_2016_Article_851.pdf

 

Abstract

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality and the incidence of CV events. However, most previous studies were performed in high-risk individuals. Our objective was to assess whether the adherence to the Mediterranean diet, evaluated by the MED score, was associated with all-cause and CV mortality and incidence of CV events in individuals at low CV risk from a population-based cohort, after a 12-year mean follow-up.

 

METHODS:

 

A cohort of 1658 individuals completed a validated food-frequency questionnaire in 2001-2003. The MED score was calculated by a 0-9 scale. Anthropometric, laboratory measurements, and the vital status were collected at baseline and during 2014. The baseline CV risk was estimated by the Framingham risk score. Participants were divided into two groups: individuals at low risk (CV < 10) and individuals with CV risk =/>10.

 

RESULTS:

 

During a 12-year mean follow-up, 220 deaths, 84 due to CV diseases, and 125 incident CV events occurred. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low in 768 (score 0-2), medium in 685 (score 4-5) and high in 205 (score >6) individuals. Values of BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin significantly decreased from low to high diet adherence only in participants with CV risk =/>10. In a Cox-regression model, the hazard ratios (HRs) in low-risk individuals per unit of MED score were: HR = 0.83 (95 % CI 0.72-0.96) for all-cause mortality, HR = 0.75 (95 % CI 0.58-0.96) for CV mortality, and HR = 0.79 (95 % CI 0.65-0.97) for CV events, after multiple adjustments. In individuals with CV risk =/>10, the MED score predicted incident CV events (HR = 0.85; 95 % CI 0.72-0.99), while the associations with all-cause (HR = 1.02; 95 % CI 0.90-1.15) and CV mortality (0.94; 95 % CI 0.76-1.15) were not significant.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

 

Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced fatal and non fatal CV events, especially in individuals at low CV risk, thus suggesting the usefulness of promoting this nutritional pattern in particular in healthier individuals.

 

KEYWORDS:

 

All-cause mortality; Cardiovascular mortality; Cardiovascular risk; Mediterranean diet

[Sthira]

I'm curious why we keep seeing these studies indicating that plant based diets are healthy. Don't we already know this? Aren't there enough of these studies?

 

Anyone know why they're supported while more important work stays unfunded? The sky is blue, the sun is hot, plants are green, birds fly, humans not healthy and humans healthy should eat some spinach. I mean, is diet science something like infinitely performing Giselle over and over and over just because that's what's popular and that's what'll distinguish the already distinguished?