Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of The Lancet, 399(10338), 1876–1885. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00122-2 Dr. Javier Delgado-Lista et al
Points
- Composite cardiovascular events over a seven (7)-year period were recorded for patients on a Mediterranean diet compared to those on a low-fat diet
- Overall, fewer events were recorded for the Mediterranean diet group, with a greater benefit in favor of the Mediterranean diet seen for male participants
Summary
Lifestyle changes are among some of the easily-mentioned steps in preventing the onset of cardiovascular disease, known to be the leading cause of death around the world. Despite this, many questions surround the aspect of maintaining an optimal diet. This study, known as the CORDIOPREV study, sought to compare the effects of the Mediterranean diet on the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events against the low-fat diet. Overall, the study was enacted over a follow-up period of seven (7) years. All participants enrolled if they had a known coronary artery disease; from there, they were randomly assigned either of the two diets mentioned. The primary outcome considered was a composite of major cardiovascular events over seven (7) years, like myocardial infection and cardiovascular death among others.
About 1002 men (82.5%) and women aged between 20 and 75 years old (avg. 59.6 years old), all having a history of coronary heart disease, was enrolled for the CORDIOPREV study. There, participants were randomized between the Mediterranean diet and the low-fat diet 1:1. Olive oil was given for free to participants in the Mediterranean diet group; on the other hand, physicians in the study were masked to the diet of patients.
After the designated follow-up period, the Mediterranean diet was found to be superior to the low-fat diet in preventing cardiovascular events (HR 0.745, 95% CI 0.563-0.986; p=0.04). Overall, 87 cardiovascular events were recorded in the Mediterranean diet group, while 111 were recorded for the low-fat diet group. No significant differences were recognized between the primary outcome and the individual components of the composite. The benefit associated with the result was seen across different variables; despite this, the greatest effect was seen in the male sex.
Certain limitations were acknowledged for the study, including the geographical limitation of Spain where a Mediterranean diet may be more easily accessed and culturally accepted; In any case, the study gave a pathway to complex intervention through a standardized care procedure over a follow-up period.
Link to the article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00122-2/fulltext
References Delgado-Lista, J., Alcala-Diaz, J. F., Torres-Peña, J. D., Quintana-Navarro, G. M., Fuentes, F., Garcia-Rios, A., Ortiz-Morales, A. M., Gonzalez-Requero, A. I., Perez-Caballero, A. I., Yubero-Serrano, E. M., Rangel-Zuñiga, O. A., Camargo, A., Rodriguez-Cantalejo, F., Lopez-Segura, F., Badimon, L., Ordovas, J. M., Perez-Jimenez, F., Perez-Martinez, P., Lopez-Miranda, J., … Yubero-Serrano, E. M. (2022). Long-term secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet and a low-fat diet (Cordioprev): A randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 399(10338), 1876–1885. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00122-2
