Bravo: Nutrition in the Spotlight!

A study on the Mediterranean Diet reveals the wonderful result of highlighting much-needed attention on the role of nutrition in health.

Let’s unravel the report and put it into perspective.

The study examined the effect of a Mediterranean diet on people at high risk for heart disease. Participants were then asked to follow either a Mediterranean-style diet  (either supplemented with olive oil or with nuts) vs. a “control” diet.

The trial was stopped prematurely because the early results were so conclusive: the Mediterranean diet groups crushed the combined rate of heart attack, heart death, and stroke by at least 28%.

Why is this study important?

• Large numbers: The study examined a very large group—7,447 people—for an extended time: nearly 5 years.
• Prevention focus: Researchers studied people who initially did not have known heart disease, so it was truly a “primary” prevention study.
• Big results: 28% fewer vascular complications is on par with results from cholesterol-lowering studies.
• Relevant: Participants found the Mediterranean diet easy to follow.

How to eat like they did in this Mediterranean diet study

• Vegetables: about ¾ pound per day.
• Fruit: about 1 pound per day.
• Extra-virgin olive oil: about 4 tablespoon per day OR about 1 handful of nuts per day.
• Fish: 4 oz, or ¼ pound of fish per day. (Equivalent of 1 serving every other day.)
• Legumes (beans, lentils, peas): 1 serving per day.

Limitations of the study

• Did not evaluate added vegetables/fruit: All participants were already eating about 3 servings of vegetables and 3 servings of fruit at the beginning of the study and intake did not change appreciably during the trial.
• Did not compare the Mediterranean diet to a low fat diet: The “control” group did not eat a low-fat diet as intended.
• Benefits mainly focused on prevention of stroke.

Perspective:

• Weight of evidence is mounting: This study is completely in line with other reports, including the Lyon Mediterranean diet study, that was much smaller and studied people with confirmed heart disease. That study showed a 72% reduced risk of cardiac complications.
• Mediterranean Diet is delicious and was found to be easy to follow.  No “special” or costly foods are required.

The Gaples Institute is working on channeling the interest stirred by this study into action: Improving nutrition education for healthcare professionals and the community, and helping to make nutrition a foundation of medical care, is our mission. We are providing interactive online nutrition education for the public and for health professionals, conducting classes and seminars, and supporting the improvement of nutrition education in physician training programs.

Reference:  Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet