American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 61, 1360S-1367S, Copyright © 1995 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Cretan Mediterranean diet for prevention of coronary heart disease

S Renaud, M de Lorgeril, J Delaye, J Guidollet, F Jacquard, N Mamelle, JL Martin, I Monjaud, P Salen and P Toubol
INSERM Unit 63, Lyon-Bron, France.

As a result of the Seven Countries Study, the Mediterranean diet has been popularized as a healthy diet. Nevertheless, it has not replaced the prudent diet commonly prescribed to coronary patients. Recently, we completed a secondary, randomized, prospective prevention trial in 605 patients recovering from myocardial infarction in which we compared an adaptation of the Cretan Mediterranean diet with the usual prescribed diet. After a mean follow-up period of 27 mo, recurrent myocardial infarction, all cardiovascular events, and cardiac and total death were significantly decreased by > 70% in the group consuming the Mediterranean diet. These protective effects were not related to serum concentrations of total, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL), or high-density- lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. In contrast, protective effects were related to changes observed in plasma fatty acids: an increase in n-3 fatty acids and oleic acid and a decrease in linoleic acid that resulted from higher intakes of linolenic and oleic acids, but lower intakes of saturated fatty acids and linoleic acid. In addition, higher plasma concentrations of antioxidant vitamins C and E were observed. We conclude that a Cretan Mediterranean diet adapted to a Western population protected against coronary heart disease much more efficiently than did the prudent diet. Thus, it appears that the favorable life expectancy of the Cretans could be largely due to their diet.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Erdmann, N. Grosser, K. Schipporeit, and H. Schroder The ACE Inhibitory Dipeptide Met-Tyr Diminishes Free Radical Formation in Human Endothelial Cells via Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 and Ferritin J. Nutr., August 1, 2006; 136(8): 2148 - 2152. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Andreadou, E. K. Iliodromitis, E. Mikros, M. Constantinou, A. Agalias, P. Magiatis, A. L. Skaltsounis, E. Kamber, A. Tsantili-Kakoulidou, and D. T. Kremastinos The Olive Constituent Oleuropein Exhibits Anti-Ischemic, Antioxidative, and Hypolipidemic Effects in Anesthetized Rabbits J. Nutr., August 1, 2006; 136(8): 2213 - 2219. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C L. Kien, J. Y Bunn, and F. Ugrasbul Increasing dietary palmitic acid decreases fat oxidation and daily energy expenditure Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 320 - 326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. V Dedoussis, D. B Panagiotakos, C. Chrysohoou, C. Pitsavos, A. Zampelas, D. Choumerianou, and C. Stefanadis Effect of interaction between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C->T mutation on homocysteine concentrations in healthy adults: the ATTICA Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2004; 80(4): 849 - 854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C Renaud, R. Gueguen, P. Conard, D. Lanzmann-Petithory, J.-M. Orgogozo, and O. Henry Moderate wine drinkers have lower hypertension-related mortality: a prospective cohort study in French men Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2004; 80(3): 621 - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Vrentzos, J. A. Papadakis, N. Malliaraki, E. A. Zacharis, K. Katsogridakis, A. N. Margioris, P. E. Vardas, and E. S. Ganotakis Association of Serum Total Homocysteine with the Extent of Ischemic Heart Disease in a Mediterranean Cohort Angiology, September 1, 2004; 55(5): 517 - 524. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Weinbrenner, M. Fito, R. d. l. Torre, G. T. Saez, P. Rijken, C. Tormos, S. Coolen, M. F. Albaladejo, S. Abanades, H. Schroder, et al. Olive Oils High in Phenolic Compounds Modulate Oxidative/Antioxidative Status in Men J. Nutr., September 1, 2004; 134(9): 2314 - 2321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Tyssandier, C. Feillet-Coudray, C. Caris-Veyrat, J.-C. Guilland, C. Coudray, S. Bureau, M. Reich, M.-J. Amiot-Carlin, C. Bouteloup-Demange, Y. Boirie, et al. Effect of Tomato Product Consumption on the Plasma Status of Antioxidant Microconstituents and on the Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity in Healthy Subjects J. Am. Coll. Nutr., April 1, 2004; 23(2): 148 - 156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C Renaud and D. Lanzmann-Petithory The beneficial effect of {alpha}-linolenic acid in coronary artery disease is not questionable Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2002; 76(4): 903 - 904. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Feskens, C. Oomen, M. Ocke, and D. Kromhout Reply to F Visioli and C Galli Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2002; 75(6): 1121 - 1122. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P. Simopoulos The Mediterranean Diets: What Is So Special about the Diet of Greece? The Scientific Evidence J. Nutr., November 1, 2001; 131(11): 3065S - 3073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.P. Simopoulos Evolutionary aspects of diet, essential fatty acids and cardiovascular disease Eur. Heart J. Suppl., June 1, 2001; 3(suppl_D): D8 - D21. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. W. Siero, J. Broer, W. J. E. Bemelmans, and B. M. Meyboom-de Jong Impact of group nutrition education and surplus value of Prochaska-based stage-matched information on health-related cognitions and on Mediterranean nutrition behavior Health Educ. Res., October 1, 2000; 15(5): 635 - 647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J-P BROUSTET Wine and health Heart, May 1, 1999; 81(5): 459 - 460. [Full Text]

				S. Tsimikas, A. Philis-Tsimikas, S. Alexopoulos, F. Sigari, C. Lee, and P. D. Reaven LDL Isolated From Greek Subjects on a Typical Diet or From American Subjects on an Oleate-Supplemented Diet Induces Less Monocyte Chemotaxis and Adhesion When Exposed to Oxidative Stress Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., January 1, 1999; 19(1): 122 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]