Effects of a Mediterranean Diet, Dairy, and Meat Products on Different Phenotypes of Dyslipidemia: A Preliminary Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background: Dyslipidemia is one of the major causes of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and a Mediterranean Diet (MD) is recommended for its prevention. The objectives of this study were to evaluate adherence to an MD at baseline and follow-up, in a cohort of dyslipidemic patients, and to evaluate how different food intakes can influence lipid profile, especially how different sources of saturated fatty acids impact lipid phenotype. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 106 dyslipidemic patients. Clinical characteristics, lipid profile, and food habits data were collected at baseline and after three months of follow-up with counseling. Adherence to an MD was evaluated with a validated food-frequency questionnaire (MEDI-LITE score). Results: The cross-sectional analysis showed that higher consumption of dairy products correlated independently with higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and with lower triglycerides (TG) levels. Instead, lower HDL-C and TG levels and higher TC levels were independently associated with higher consumption of meat products. Adherence to an MD significantly improved after the follow-up period, from a mean value of 10 ± 3 (median 10, IQR 8–12) to 13 ± 2 (median 14, IQR 12–15), p < 0.0001. Conclusions: Dyslipidemic patients benefit from counseling for improving their adherence to an MD. The high intake of dairy products was associated with less atherogenic hyperlipidemia, which was characterized by higher levels of TC and HDL-C as compared withs the intake of an excessive amount of meat products, which was associated with higher levels of TC and TG and lower levels of HDL-C.

Special Issue “Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Diseases”

“…In total, 23 studies evaluated the level of MD adherence on WC with a significantly inverse pooled effect being found. HDL-c was assessed by 39 studies (N = 31,800 individuals) and the pooled effect showed increased levels with higher MD adherence, while TG were found significantly lower, in agreement with other studies included in the Special Issue [3,6,7].…”

“…These results underline that in addition to the dietary transition seen the past decades in this region, the pandemic has further triggered unhealthy dietary choices that may further increase metabolic diseases, and the authors agree with Grabia and colleagues [ 2 ] and recommend dietary counseling to increase fruits, vegetables, and other foods close to the MD pattern. Moreover, the importance of dietary counseling on the lipid profile in healthy [ 6 , 7 ] and dyslipidemic individuals [ 3 ] was evident by intervention studies included in the present SI.…”

“…This SI contains multifaceted research articles and a systematic review, which have addressed these issues both in healthy individuals and in those with specifically defined disease states or risk factors. Specifically, this SI contains research that has been carried out in not only the general population, but also among patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) [ 2 ] or dyslipidemia [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], as well as among firefighters who are proxy to healthy and physically fit individuals [ 6 , 7 ], adding valuable information to the pre-stated gap in knowledge.…”

“…another risk factor for metabolic diseases, especially atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They aimed to evaluate how adherence to the MD affects the lipid profile in patients with dyslipidemia, using a retrospective design [ 3 ]. Elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG), with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), represent the most atherogenic dyslipidemic profile, which has been shown to be potentially ameliorated from a higher MD adherence.…”

Trends in Serum Lipid Profiles Among Korean Adolescents, 2007–2018

“…27,29 In addition, a recent study observed that the consumption of dairy products was associated with higher TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels in patients with dyslipidemia. 30 Owing to the lack of data on dietary consumption in KNHANES, especially in adolescents aged 10-11 years, our study could not determine the possible association between the changes in lipid profiles and nutritional factors. However, a simultaneous increase in TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels in Korean adolescents suggests a possible role of changes in dietary fat or dairy consumption in this population; further studies are warranted in the future.…”