<p>The Mediterranean Diet And Cardioprotection: Historical Overview And Current Research</p>

Abstract

Ancient Greece was the cradle of the Mediterranean food tradition, characterized by the Mediterranean “eternal trinity” wheat - olive oil - wine, the very essence of the country’s traditional agricultural and dietary regime, enriched by a culture of sharing and commensality. This food model, subsequently adopted and spread by the Romans, was rediscovered at the end of the Second World War by two American researchers, Leland Allbaugh and Ancel Keys. With the famous Seven Countries Study, Keys demonstrated for the first time that populations practicing a Mediterranean diet - such as the Greeks and southern Italians - showed low mortality rates from ischemic heart disease compared to the peoples of Northern Europe and North America. Since then, numerous subsequent epidemiological studies and randomized clinical trials have confirmed the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet both in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This review will focus on the origins of the Mediterranean diet from its roots and its relationship to cardiovascular disease, with a brief overview of the nutritional mechanisms that influence atherosclerosis.

A Narrative Review of Dietary Approaches for Kidney Transplant Patients

“…This diet is also able to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis because of a high intake of unsaturated fat (olive oil) and polyphenols (red wine), 16,17 and low saturated fat intake (read meat). 18,19 In transplant recipients, this diet showed improvement on oxidative status of the plasma and erythrocytes 16 and also on acid-base balance and glomerular hemodynamics. [3][4][5][12][13][14][15][16] Thus, we strongly recommend this diet as it leads to a balanced eating habit with a positive impact on overall health and graft survival after transplantation.…”

<p>Reflections on Atherosclerosis: Lesson from the Past and Future Research Directions</p>

“…These factors probably had a significant impact on atherogenesis. 14,15 However, this explanation does not hold for the other peoples examined: indeed, the Peruvians were farmers and shepherds, the Unangans were mainly fishermen, the Ancestral Puebloans were farmers and gatherers. All three groups practiced intense physical activity and a simple diet.…”

“…At the same time, other unknown pro-atherogenic causes cannot be excluded. 15,16 The complex of these data suggests that atherosclerosis is an aging-related disease with a strong interaction between genetic and environmental factors.…”

Effectiveness of Workplace Mediterranean Diet Interventions on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review

“…The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is characterized by consumption of foods that are high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), polyphenols, and fiber; as well as low in saturated fat, red meat, and salt (Rees et al, 2019). There are numerous health benefits related to adherence to the MedDiet, including lower systemic inflammation, (Sureda et al, 2018;Yarla et al, 2018) lower DNA oxidative damage (Schwingshackl et al, 2015(Schwingshackl et al, , 2017Sies, 2015), greater insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure, healthier lipid profile, and improved endothelial function (Garcia-Arellano et al, 2015;Saklayen, 2018;Schwingshackl & Hoffmann, 2014;Tresserra-Rimbau et al, 2014), providing a protective effect against cardiometabolic diseases (Estruch et al, 2018;Minelli & Montinari, 2019). However, there is little evidence of association between MUFA intake, total fat intake, PUFA intake, saturated fat intake, and cardiovascular risk, in contrast to popular beliefs (Clifton & Keogh, 2017).…”