Adherence to the Mediterranean diet attenuates inflammation and coagulation process in healthy adults: The ATTICA Study.

By C. Chrysohoou, D. Panagiotakos, C. Pitsavos, Undurti N. Das, Christodoulos Stefanadis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004

782 citations recorded by the source corpus.

OBJECTIVES We studied the effect of the Mediterranean diet on plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell counts, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, amyloid A, fibrinogen, and homocysteine. BACKGROUND To the best of our knowledge, the mechanism(s) by which the Mediterranean diet reduces cardiovascular risk are not well understood. METHODS During the 2001 to 2002 period, we randomly enrolled 1,514 men (18 to 87 years old) and 1,528 women (18 to 89 years old) from the Attica area of Greece (of these, 5% of men and 3% of women were excluded because of a history of cardiovascular disease). Among several factors, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by a diet score that incorporated the inherent characteristics of this diet. Higher values of the score meant closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet. RESULTS Participants who were in the highest tertile of the diet score had, on average, 20% lower CRP levels (p = 0.015), 17% lower IL-6 levels (p = 0.025), 15% lower homocysteine levels (p = 0.031), 14% lower white blood cell counts (p = 0.001), and 6% lower fibrinogen levels (p = 0.025), as compared with those in the lowest tertile. The findings remained significant even after various adjustments were made. Borderline associations were found regarding TNF-alpha (p = 0.076), amyloid A levels (p = 0.19), and diet score. CONCLUSIONS Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduction in the concentrations of inflammation and coagulation markers. This may partly explain the beneficial actions of this diet on the cardiovascular system.

Subfields: Epidemiology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Rheumatology

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Citations in the corpus

Association of Mediterranean diet with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2014, background): “Higher adherence to MeDi has been shown to be associated with low level of C-reactive protein and lower interleukin levels [33–35].”
Diet and inflammation. (2010, result): “Those in the highest tertile of adherence averaged 20% lower HS-CRP, 17% lower IL-6 levels, 14% lower white blood cell counts, 6% lower fibrinogen levels, and a borderline reduction in TNF-α, when compared with those in the lowest tertile.(49) Similar results were found among patients who had surviv”
The effects of diet on inflammation: emphasis on the metabolic syndrome. (2006, background): “he mounting epidemic of obesity (107,108) and the metaolic syndrome (88) is likely to increase the prevalence of ost of these diseases in the near future, adoption of a ealthy lifestyle is paramount to reducing chronic disease isk.”
Mediterranean diet, stroke, cognitive impairment, and depression: A meta‐analysis (2013, background): “Recent literature has shown that adherents to Mediterranean diet may be more health conscious,(55) more physically active, smoke less, or have more favorable social and lifestyle determinants.(56) Notably, in many eligible studies, these confounders have been taken into account, whereas meta-regress”
Dietary factors and low-grade inflammation in relation to overweight and obesity (2011, positive): “Observational studies have examined the association of the Mediterranean diet with inflammatory markers in healthy persons((282,283,285)), and they generally report inverse correlations.”
So depression is an inflammatory disease, but where does the inflammation come from? (2013, positive): “pattern was associated with lower inflammatory markers [54].”
Mediterranean Diet and Mild Cognitive Impairment (2009, background): “Higher adherence to the MeDi is in general associated with significant reductions in a series of other inflammatory markers including white blood cell counts and others.(52) The potentially beneficial effect of the MeDi may be the result of some of its individual food components.”