In developed nations, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. Existing research indicates that risk factors linked to one’s lifestyle, such as food and exercise, have an impact on the development of various types of illnesses. Do they, on the other hand, have any impact on people who are already suffering from illness?
A team from the University of Córdoba, Queen Sofia University Hospital and the Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC) has published a study in PLOS Medicine.
A study, published in PLOS Medicine, analyzed the impact of two different healthy diets on the endothelium, the walls that cover the arteries. The research included 1002 individuals who had previously had an acute MI and were monitored for a year.
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A similar study was done before with healthy patients, but this is the first time it has been done with sick patients, who are more prone to heart attacks.
“The degree of endothelial damage predicts the occurrence of future cardiovascular events, as in acute myocardial infarctions. If we can take action at the inital stages, prompting endothelium regeneration and better endothelial function, we can help to prevent heart attacks and heart disease from reoccurring,” explained José López Miranda, one of the study researcher and coordinator of the “Nutritional Genomics and Metabolic Syndrome” research group at the Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba.
On average, half of the patients in the research were advised to have three meals of legumes, seafood, and nuts each week, along with lots of virgin olive oil.
They were also advised to limit meat, particularly red meat, and to avoid extra fats like margarine and butter, as well as sugary foods.
The second group was instructed to eat a low-fat diet, restricting all types of fat, including animal and plant, and boosting complex carbs.
They were advised to consume less red meat, low-fat dairy products, avoid nuts, and limit sweets and pastries.
First, the vasodilation capability of the patients’ arteries was assessed, which is critical for adapting to various conditions, such as exercise or stress.
Second, the extent of long-term endothelium damage was determined. Finally, the capacity of endothelial progenitor cells, or stem cells, to repair the arteries was assessed.
“We observed that the Mediterranean diet model induced better endothelial function, meaning that the arteries were more flexible in adapting to different situations in which greater blood flow is required. Besides, the endothelium’s ability to regenerate was better and we detected a drastic reduction in damage to the endothelium, even in patients at severe risk,” said José López Miranda.
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Though the Mediterranean diet, which is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, has been shown to improve endothelial function in overweight and high cholesterol patients, this is the first time that the benefits of following a Mediterranean diet have been demonstrated in patients with heart disease, assisting them in reducing their risk of having another heart attack.
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