60),
recruited from 9 European countries, who did not have CAD, stroke, or
cancer at enrollment.The Mediterranean diet has been linked with improved
outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The diet is
characterized by high intake of vegetables, legumes, fruits, and
cereals; moderate-to-high intake of fish; low intake of saturated
fats; high intake of unsaturated fats (particularly olive oil);
low-to-moderate intake of dairy products and meat; and moderate
alcohol intake (mostly wine). In this prospective cohort study,
investigators examined the effect on overall survival of adhering to
a modified Mediterranean diet (i.e., a traditional Mediterranean diet
slightly redefined to include both monounsaturated and
polyunsaturated fats, making it more applicable to non-Mediterranean populations).
Participants were 74,607 men and women (age,
60),
recruited from 9 European countries, who did not have CAD, stroke, or
cancer at enrollment.
Researchers gathered information on dietary intake, as well as lifestyle, anthropomorphic, and medical variables, and measured degree of adherence to the components of a modified Mediterranean diet on a 10-point scale. During a mean follow-up of 7.4 years, 4047 participants died. Increased dietary adherence scores were associated with lower overall mortality. After adjustment for confounding variables, a 2-point increase in the adherence score was associated with a statistically significant 8% reduction in mortality. The effect was strongest in Spain and Greece.
Even in countries where consumption patterns include unsaturated fats other than olive oil, adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet is associated with reductions in mortality rates. At the time of publication, the full text of the original article was available free of charge.
Reference:
Trichopoulou A et al. Modified Mediterranean diet and survival: EPIC-elderly prospective cohort study. BMJ 2005 Apr 30; 330:991-5.