Exclusive Olive Oil Consumption Is Associated with Lower Likelihood of Developing Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: The Hellenic Heart Failure Study

Abstract

Background/Aims: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the association between exclusive olive oil consumption and the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with a previous acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: From 2006 to 2007, 651 consecutive ACS patients were enrolled. In 288 males (64 ± 13 years) and 75 females (71 ± 11 years), LVSD (ejection fraction <40%) developed after the cardiac event, and 221 males (62 ± 11 years) and 69 females (66 ± 11 years) were without LVSD (ejection fraction >50%). Detailed information regarding their clinical characteristics, anthropometric data, physical activity, smoking and dietary habits (including lipids use) were recorded. Results: 70% of the LVSD patients and 76% of the non-LVSD patients reported exclusive olive oil consumption. Multi-adjusted analysis revealed that exclusive olive oil consumption in post-ACS patients with a first cardiac episode was associated with a 65% (95% confidence interval 0.14–0.87) lower likelihood of developing LVSD after adjusting for various confounders. No significant association was observed among participants with a previous history of ACS. Conclusions: Exclusive, long-term olive oil consumption seems to offer significant protection against the development of LVSD in post-ACS patients.

Mediterranean diet and risk of heart failure: results from the PREDIMED randomized controlled trial

“…Oxidative stress 25 and inflammation 26 accompany HF, and olive oil, in particular, has been associated with reduced HF risk. 27 Earlier PREDIMED reports showed that biomarkers of inflammation 28 and oxidation 12 were reduced with the MedDiet + EVOO compared with the other two groups. In the current analyses, the difference in the size of the association with HF incidence between the MedDiet + EVOO and MedDiet + nuts groups (although both not significant) might have resulted from the fact that participants in the MedDiet + EVOO group were provided (at no cost) with EVOO with a highly constant content of polyphenols.…”

“…Several mechanisms might explain a potential beneficial role of the MedDiet for HF prevention, as suggested by our exploratory meta‐analysis, including the MedDiet's anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Oxidative stress and inflammation accompany HF, and olive oil, in particular, has been associated with reduced HF risk . Earlier PREDIMED reports showed that biomarkers of inflammation and oxidation were reduced with the MedDiet + EVOO compared with the other two groups.…”

Dietary patterns and components to prevent and treat heart failure: a comprehensive review of human studies

“…Of the overall dietary pattern, only consumption of vegetables, salads and nuts was associated with lower risk of recurrent cardiac events (including HF) ( 73 ) . A cross-sectional study by the same group reported that fish, olive oil, pasta and moderate alcohol were associated with improved echocardiography parameters ( 74 ) . In contrast, the MedDiet was not associated with HF risk in multivariate analysis in a separate prospective study ( 75 ) .…”

Mediterranean Diet Mediates the Adverse Effect of Depressive Symptomatology on Short-Term Outcome in Elderly Survivors From an Acute Coronary Event.

“…Infarct size determines postinfarction survival and prognosis, as it is the most important factor of ventricular remodelling process and left ventricular systolic function. Olive oil, which is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean type of diet, is rich in oleuropein, which has been shown to reduce the infarct size, in experimental models [39,40], and also to protect reperfused myocardium from oxidative damage "in vivo," resulting in more preserved left ventricular systolic function [41]. In a recent study [9], it was revealed that ACS patients that had closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet preserved left ventricular systolic function, while they showed less in-hospital deaths and cardiovascular events during the two-years of followup.…”