A Mediterranean diet, rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil, can reduce a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease and death by nearly 25%, according to the first-ever pooled data analysis published in the journal. The research highlights the need for more sex-specific studies to inform clinical practice in heart health.
The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy eating plan inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of the Mediterranean region. It emphasizes the consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil as the primary sources of fat. The diet also includes moderate amounts of fish and shellfish, low to moderate intake of wine, and low consumption of red and processed meats, dairy products, animal fats, and processed foods.
The results of the analysis showed that sticking closely to a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 23% lower risk of death from any cause in women. They nevertheless acknowledge various limitations to their findings, including that all the studies analyzed were observational and relied on self-reported food frequency questionnaires. And adjustments for potentially influential factors varied across the included studies.
“However, mechanisms explaining the sex-specific effect of the Mediterranean diet on [cardiovascular disease] and death remain unclear,” they note, adding that the findings reinforce the need for more sex-specific research in cardiology.
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