The Mediterranean diet, completely healthy. Photo: Archive
A study led by the CERCA center, the Sant Pau Research Institute and the Lleida Biomedical Research Institute (IRBLleida) has concluded that adherence to the Mediterranean diet can play a “fundamental” role in the prevention of subclinical atherosclerotic disease, a condition that causes serious cardiovascular conditions.
The study, with 3,097 participants, found an association between a healthy Mediterranean diet, rich in nuts, vegetables, fish and olive oil, and a significant reduction in atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries, as explained in a press release.
Specifically, the researchers observed a 3% decrease in the number of territories affected by plaques in those participants with greater adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, evaluated using the MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) scale.
The physical activity has not shown a significant association with atherosclerotic disease progression in the study, suggesting that the Mediterranean diet could play a “more prominent” role in protecting against atherosclerosis.
The study has also identified risk factors for the development of fatty plaques in the arteries, such as advanced age, hypertension, smoking and dyslipidemia; In addition, the female sex could have a “protective effect” against the progression of the disease.
