Aim: In the present review the basic characteristics of the Mediterranean diet (MD) as well as its protective actions with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease will be presented. Moreover, the suggested mechanisms through which MD exerts its bioprotective effects will be discussed.
Material-Methods: Articles from the PUBMED database were searched from 1950 to June of 2012.
Results: MD as assessed with a priori and a posteriori indices is related to reduced mortality and cardiovascular disease. More particularly, 15 studies testing the relation of MD to mortality and 10 studies assessing its actions on cardiovascular disease corroborate the protective effects of the MD. In parallel, 3 studies of secondary prevention have shown positive results. The protective outcomes of MD on cardiovascular disease are due to its content in macro- and micro- nutrients and antioxidants, its beneficial effects on postprandial lipemia and glycemia, its effect on endothelium and its content in platelet activating factor- inhibitors, which have anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutrient- gene interactions can also explain the beneficial effects of the MD.
Conclusion: MD has a protective action against cardiovascular disease and is inversely related to mortality through several mechanisms.
Hellenic Dietetics Association was founded in 1969 in Athens and constitutes the …
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