Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Mediterranean Diet in the Early and Late Stages of Atheroma Plaque Development

• Published in: Mediators of Inflammation Vol. 2017; no. 2017; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Portillo, María P., Estruch, Ramón, Lapetra, José, Lamuela-Raventós, Rosa M., Castañer, Olga, Corella, Dolores, Arranz, Sara, Sacanella, Emilio, Urpi-Sardà, Mireia, Casas, Rosa, Salas-Salvadó, Jordi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01.01.2017; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Hindawi; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-inflammatory diet; Atherosclerosis - diet therapy; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Atherosclerotic plaque; Biomarkers; Blood plasma; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - diet therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Cell adhesion & migration; Chemokine CCL4 - metabolism; Chemokine CCL5 - metabolism; Chemokines; Clinical Study; Cuina mediterrània; Cytokines; Development and progression; Diet; Diet, Fat-Restricted; Diet, Mediterranean; Fatty acids; Female; Health aspects; Hospitals; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-18 - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Intervention; Lipoproteins, LDL - metabolism; Malalties cardiovasculars; Male; Measurement; Mediterranean cooking; Middle Aged; Nutrition research; Olive oil; Physiological aspects; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diet therapy; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - metabolism; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - pathology; Proteins; Risk Factors; Studies; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/3674390
• ISSN: 0962-9351; 1466-1861

Objective. To evaluate the long-term effects of a Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) intervention on the plasma concentrations of inflammatory and plaque stability-related molecules in elderly people at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Design and Setting. 66 participants from primary care centers affiliated with the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona were randomized into 3 groups: MeDiet plus extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or nuts and a low-fat diet (LFD). At baseline and at 3 and 5 years, we evaluated the changes in the plasma concentrations of 24 inflammatory biomarkers related to the different stages of the atherosclerotic process by Luminex®. Results. At 3 and 5 years, both MeDiet groups showed a significant reduction of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1β (P<0.05; all) compared to LFD. IL-1β, IL-5, IL-7, IL-12p70, IL-18, TNF-α, IFN-γ, GCSF, GMCSF, and ENA78 (P<0.05; all) only decreased in the MeDiet+EVOO group and E-selectin and sVCAM-1 (P<0.05; both) in the MeDiet+nuts group. Conclusions. Long-term adherence to MeDiet decreases the plasma concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers related to different steps of atheroma plaque development in elderly persons at high cardiovascular risk.