By Medina-Remón A., Tresserra-Rimbau A., Pons A., Tur J.A., Martorell M., Ros E., Buil-Cosiales P., Sacanella E., Covas M.I., Corella D., Salas-Salvadó J., Gómez-Gracia E., Ruiz-Gutiérrez V., Ortega-Calvo M., García-Valdueza M., Arós F., Saez G.T., Serra-Majem L., Pinto X., Vinyoles E., Estruch R., Lamuela-Raventos R.M.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this work were to evaluate if a one-year intervention with two Mediterranean diets (Med-diet) could decrease blood pressure (BP) due to a high polyphenol consumption, and if the decrease in BP was mediated by plasma nitric oxide (NO) production.
METHOD
An intervention substudy of 200 participants at high cardiovascular risk was carried out within the PREDIMED trial. They were randomly assigned to a low-fat control diet or to two Med-diets, one supplemented with extra virgin olive oil (Med-EVOO) and the other with nuts (Med-nuts). Anthropometrics and clinical parameters were measured at baseline and after one year of intervention, as well as BP, plasma NO and total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine samples.
RESULT
Systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly after a one-year dietary intervention with Med-EVOO and Med-nuts. These changes were associated with a significant increase in TPE and plasma NO. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between changes in urinary TPE, a biomarker of TP intake, and in plasma NO (Beta = 4.84; 95% CI: 0.57-9.10).
CONCLUSION
TPE in spot urine sample was positively correlated with plasma NO in Med-diets supplemented with either EVOO or nuts. The statistically significant increases in plasma NO were associated with a reduction in systolic and diastolic BP levels, adding to the growing evidence that polyphenols might protect the cardiovascular system by improving the endothelial function and enhancing endothelial synthesis of NO.
PUBLISHED : JANUARY 25, 2015
STUDY TYPE : RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL
TOPICS : HEART HEALTH, MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED
By P. Henriquez‑Sanchez, A. Sanchez‑Villegas, C. Ruano‑Rodriguez, A. Gea, R. M. Lamuela‑Raventos, R. Estruch, J. Salas‑Salvado, M. I. Covas, D. Corella, H. Schröder, M. Gutierrez‑Bedmar, J. M. Santos‑Lozano, X. Pintó, F. Arós, M. Fiol, A. Tresserra‑Rimbau, E. Ros, M. A. Martinez‑Gonzalez, L. Serra‑Majem
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity, the dietary intake of different antioxidants and mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk.
METHOD
A total of 7,447 subjects from the PREDIMED study (multicenter, parallel group, randomized controlled clinical trial), were analyzed treating data as an observational cohort. Different antioxidant vitamin intake and total dietary antioxidant capacity were calculated from a validated 137-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline and updated yearly. Deaths were ascertained through contact with families and general practitioners, review of medical records and consultation of the National Death Index. Cox regression models were fitted to assess the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity and mortality. Dietary total antioxidant capacity was estimated using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays.
RESULT
A total of 319 deaths were recorded after a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Subjects belonging to the upper quintile of antioxidant capacity were younger, ex-smokers, with high educational level, and more active and had higher alcohol intake. Multivariable-adjusted models revealed no statistically significant difference between total dietary antioxidant capacity and mortality (Q5 vs. Q1 ref HR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.60-1.20) neither for the intake of all the vitamins studied.
CONCLUSION
No statistically significant association was found between antioxidant capacity and total mortality in elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk.
PUBLISHED : FEBRUARY 7, 2015
STUDY TYPE : EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDY
TOPIC : HEART HEALTH, MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED
SOURCE : http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00394-015-0840-2
By A. Austel, C. Ranke, N. Wagner, J. Görge and T. Ellrott
BACKGROUND
There is evidence that Mediterranean diets with a high proportion of olive oil and nuts can be effective for weight management and prevention of cardiovascular disease. It might be difficult for populations with other eating habits to follow such diets.
OBJECTIVE
Therefore, a modified Mediterranean-type diet using fat modification through neutral and butter-flavored canola oil, walnuts and walnut oil with two portion-controlled sweet daily snacks was tested in Germany.
METHOD
Randomized waiting-list control study with overweight/grade 1 obese subjects: 12-week self-help modified Mediterranean-type diet, 6 weeks of diet plans and 6 weeks of weight loss maintenance training. Trial duration was 12 months. Intervention group (IG) included 100 participants (average age of 52.4 years, weight 85.1 kg and body mass index (BMI) 30.1 kg/m2), waiting-list control group (CG) included 112 participants (52.6 years, 84.1 kg and 30.1 kg/m2).
RESULT
Per-protocol weight loss after 12 weeks was 5.2 kg in IG vs 0.4 kg in CG (P⩽0.0001), BMI -1.8 vs -0.1 kg/m2 (P⩽0.0001), waist circumference -4.7 vs -0.9 cm (P⩽0.0001). Triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol improved significantly in IG but not in CG. One-year dropouts: 44% in IG and 53% in CG. Weight loss after 12 months: 4.2 kg (pooled data).
CONCLUSION
A five-meal modified Mediterranean-type diet with two daily portion-controlled sweet snacks was effective for weight management in a self-help setting for overweight and grade 1 obese subjects. Fat modification through canola oil, walnuts and walnut oil improved blood lipids even at 12 months.
PUBLISHED : FEBRUARY 18, 2015
STUDY TYPE : RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL
TOPIC : MEDITERRANEAN DIET, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
SOURCE : http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ejcn201511a.html
By Ruiz-Canela M., Zazpe I., Shivappa N., Hébert J.R., Sánchez-Tainta A., Corella D., Salas-Salvadó J., Fitó M., Lamuela-Raventós R.M., Rekondo J., Fernández-Crehuet J., Fiol M., Santos-Lozano J.M., Serra-Majem L., Pinto X., Martínez J.A., Ros E., Estruch R., Martínez-González M.A.
METHOD
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 7236 participants recruited into the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea trial. Information from a validated 137-item FFQ was used to calculate energy, food and nutrient intakes. A fourteen-item dietary screener was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet). Sex-specific multivariable linear regression models were fitted to estimate differences (and 95% CI) in BMI, waist circumference and WHtR across the quintiles of the DII.
RESULT
All nutrient intakes, healthy foods and adherence to the MeDiet were higher in the quintile with the lowest DII score (more anti-inflammatory values) except for intakes of animal protein, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Although an inverse association between the DII and total energy was apparent, the DII was associated with higher average BMI, waist circumference and WHtR after adjusting for known risk factors. The adjusted difference in the WHtR for women and men between the highest and lowest quintiles of the DII was 1·60% (95% CI 0·87, 2·33) and 1·04% (95% CI 0·35, 1·74), respectively. Pro-inflammatory scores remained associated with obesity after controlling for the effect that adherence to a MeDiet had on inflammation.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the present study shows a direct association between the DII and indices of obesity, and supports the hypothesis that diet may have a role in the development of obesity through inflammatory modulation mechanisms.
PUBLISHED : FEBRUARY 27, 2015
STUDY TYPE : EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDY
TOPIC : MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
SOURCE : http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9579157&fileId=S0007114514004401
By Cinta Valls-Pedret; Aleix Sala-Vila, DPharm; Mercè Serra-Mir; Dolores Corella; Rafael de la Torre; Miguel Ángel; Martínez-González; Elena H. Martínez-Lapiscina; Montserrat Fitó; Ana Pérez-Heras; Jordi Salas-Salvadó, MD; Ramon; Estruch; Emilio Ros
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress and vascular impairment are believed to mediate in part age-related cognitive decline, a strong risk factor for development of dementia. Epidemiological studies suggest that a Mediterranean Diet, an antioxidant-rich cardioprotective dietary pattern, delays cognitive decline, but clinical trial evidence is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether a Mediterranean diet supplemented with antioxidant rich foods influences cognitive function compared to a control diet.
DESIGN
Randomized, parallel-group, controlled trial. Barcelona, Spain. Cognitively healthy volunteers (n=447, 52% women, mean age 66.9 years) at high cardiovascular risk enrolled into the PREDIMED nutrition intervention trial underwent neuropsychological assessment at inclusion and were offered retest at the end of the study.
METHOD
Participants were randomly assigned to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (olive oil) (1 liter/week), a Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts (30 g/day), or control diet (advice to reduce dietary fat).
RESULT
Rates of cognitive change over time based on a neuropsychological test battery: Mini-Mental State Examination, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Animals Semantic Fluency, Digit span from Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Verbal Paired Associates from Wechsler Memory Scale, and Color Trail Test. We used mean z scores of change in each individual test to construct three cognitive composites: memory, frontal (attention and executive function), and global cognition. Follow-up cognitive tests were available in 334 participants after intervention (median of 4.1years). In multivariate analyses adjusted for confounders, participants allocated to a Mediterranean diet +olive oil scored better in RAVLT (P=.049) and Color Trail part 2 (P=.044) compared with controls. Similarly adjusted cognitive composites showed that, compared to the control group, the Mediterranean diet+nuts group improved performance above baseline in memory tests (P=.041), while the Mediterranean diet+olive oil group performed better in tests of frontal (P=.003) and global cognition (P=.005). All cognitive composites significantly (P< .05) decreased from baseline in controls.
CONCLUSION
In an older population a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil or nuts was associated with improved cognitive function.
PUBLISHED : MAY 11, 2015
STUDY TYPE : RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL
TOPIC : HEALTH & WALNUTS, COGNITIVE AND AGING, MEDITERRANEAN DIET
SOURCE : http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2293082
By Sonia García-Calzón, Miguel A. Martínez-González, Cristina Razquin, Dolores Corella, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, J. Alfredo Martínez, Guillermo Zalba and Amelia Marti
BACKGROUND
The gene variant Pro/Ala (rs1801282) in the PPARγ2 has been associated with lower cardiovascular risk and greater benefit from lifestyle interventions. This polymorphism also seems to be associated with longer lifespan, but no information on telomere length (TL) is available. Our aim was to study the association between the Ala allele and changes in TL in high cardiovascular risk subjects and the potential interaction with a Mediterranean dietary pattern.
METHOD
A total of 521 subjects (55-80 years) participating in the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea randomized trial were genotyped. Changes in TL, measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were assessed over 5 years of a nutritional intervention, which promoted adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet).
RESULT
Interestingly, Ala carriers showed lower telomere shortening after 5 years compared with the Pro/Pro genotype (P=0.031). This association was modulated by MeDiet because those Ala carriers who reported better conformity to the MeDiet exhibited increased TL (P < 0.001). Moreover, a reduction in carbohydrate intake (≤9.5 g/d) resulted in increased TL among Ala carriers. Notably, an apparent gene-diet interaction was found through the observed changes in the MUFA+PUFA/carbohydrates ratio: as this ratio increased, TL lengthening was detected to a greater extent in the Ala carriers compared with the Pro/Pro subjects (P for interaction < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with TL homeostasis after 5 years follow-up in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. In addition, a higher adherence to the MeDiet pattern strengthens the prevention of telomere shortening among Ala carriers.
PUBLISHED : NOVEMBER 18, 2014
STUDY TYPE : EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDY
TOPIC : COGNITIVE AND AGING, MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED
SOURCE : http://circgenetics.ahajournals.org/content/early/2014/11/18/CIRCGENETICS.114.000635
By Medina-Remón A., Tresserra-Rimbau A., Pons A., Tur J.A., Martorell M., Ros E., Buil-Cosiales P., Sacanella E., Covas M.I., Corella D., Salas-Salvadó J., Gómez-Gracia E., Ruiz-Gutiérrez V., Ortega-Calvo M., García-Valdueza M., Arós F., Saez G.T., Serra-Majem L., Pinto X., Vinyoles E., Estruch R., Lamuela-Raventos R.M.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this work were to evaluate if a one-year intervention with two Mediterranean diets (Med-diet) could decrease blood pressure (BP) due to a high polyphenol consumption, and if the decrease in BP was mediated by plasma nitric oxide (NO) production.
METHOD
An intervention substudy of 200 participants at high cardiovascular risk was carried out within the PREDIMED trial. They were randomly assigned to a low-fat control diet or to two Med-diets, one supplemented with extra virgin olive oil (Med-EVOO) and the other with nuts (Med-nuts). Anthropometrics and clinical parameters were measured at baseline and after one year of intervention, as well as BP, plasma NO and total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine samples.
RESULT
Systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly after a one-year dietary intervention with Med-EVOO and Med-nuts. These changes were associated with a significant increase in TPE and plasma NO. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between changes in urinary TPE, a biomarker of TP intake, and in plasma NO (Beta = 4.84; 95% CI: 0.57-9.10).
CONCLUSION
TPE in spot urine sample was positively correlated with plasma NO in Med-diets supplemented with either EVOO or nuts. The statistically significant increases in plasma NO were associated with a reduction in systolic and diastolic BP levels, adding to the growing evidence that polyphenols might protect the cardiovascular system by improving the endothelial function and enhancing endothelial synthesis of NO.
PUBLISHED : JANUARY 25, 2015
STUDY TYPE : RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL
TOPIC : HEART HEALTH, MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED
By P. Henriquez‑Sanchez, A. Sanchez‑Villegas, C. Ruano‑Rodriguez, A. Gea, R. M. Lamuela‑Raventos, R. Estruch, J. Salas‑Salvado, M. I. Covas, D. Corella, H. Schröder, M. Gutierrez‑Bedmar, J. M. Santos‑Lozano, X. Pintó, F. Arós, M. Fiol, A. Tresserra‑Rimbau, E. Ros, M. A. Martinez‑Gonzalez, L. Serra‑Majem
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity, the dietary intake of different antioxidants and mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk.
METHOD
A total of 7,447 subjects from the PREDIMED study (multicenter, parallel group, randomized controlled clinical trial), were analyzed treating data as an observational cohort. Different antioxidant vitamin intake and total dietary antioxidant capacity were calculated from a validated 137-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline and updated yearly. Deaths were ascertained through contact with families and general practitioners, review of medical records and consultation of the National Death Index. Cox regression models were fitted to assess the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity and mortality. Dietary total antioxidant capacity was estimated using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays.
RESULT
A total of 319 deaths were recorded after a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Subjects belonging to the upper quintile of antioxidant capacity were younger, ex-smokers, with high educational level, and more active and had higher alcohol intake. Multivariable-adjusted models revealed no statistically significant difference between total dietary antioxidant capacity and mortality (Q5 vs. Q1 ref HR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.60-1.20) neither for the intake of all the vitamins studied.
CONCLUSION
No statistically significant association was found between antioxidant capacity and total mortality in elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk.
PUBLISHED : FEBRUARY 7, 2015
STUDY TYPE : EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDY
TOPIC : HEART HEALTH, MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED
SOURCE : http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00394-015-0840-2
By Ruiz-Canela M., Zazpe I., Shivappa N., Hébert J.R., Sánchez-Tainta A., Corella D., Salas-Salvadó J., Fitó M., Lamuela-Raventós R.M., Rekondo J., Fernández-Crehuet J., Fiol M., Santos-Lozano J.M., Serra-Majem L., Pinto X., Martínez J.A., Ros E., Estruch R., Martínez-González M.A.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we aimed to determine the association between the DII and BMI, waist circumference and waist:height ratio (WHtR).
METHOD
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 7236 participants recruited into the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea trial. Information from a validated 137-item FFQ was used to calculate energy, food and nutrient intakes. A fourteen-item dietary screener was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet). Sex-specific multivariable linear regression models were fitted to estimate differences (and 95% CI) in BMI, waist circumference and WHtR across the quintiles of the DII.
RESULT
All nutrient intakes, healthy foods and adherence to the MeDiet were higher in the quintile with the lowest DII score (more anti-inflammatory values) except for intakes of animal protein, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Although an inverse association between the DII and total energy was apparent, the DII was associated with higher average BMI, waist circumference and WHtR after adjusting for known risk factors. The adjusted difference in the WHtR for women and men between the highest and lowest quintiles of the DII was 1·60% (95% CI 0·87, 2·33) and 1·04% (95% CI 0·35, 1·74), respectively. Pro-inflammatory scores remained associated with obesity after controlling for the effect that adherence to a MeDiet had on inflammation.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the present study shows a direct association between the DII and indices of obesity, and supports the hypothesis that diet may have a role in the development of obesity through inflammatory modulation mechanisms.
PUBLISHED : FEBRUARY 27, 2015
STUDY TYPE : EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDY
TOPIC : MEDITERRANEAN DIET, PREDIMED, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
SOURCE : http://bit.ly/1HfiWj6