Adherence to a Mediterranean diet reduces systemic inflammatory markers in myocardial infarction survivors
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The association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and concentrations of inflammatory markers was investigated in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors from six European geographic areas, within the framework of the multicentre AIRGENE project. Dietary habits were evaluated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, while adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed via a diet score. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a protective effect. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was a reduction of 3.1% in mean C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and of 1.9% in mean interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels for each unit of increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Moderate intake of red wine (1-12 glass(es) per month) was associated with lower levels of CRP, IL-6 and fibrinogen. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet thus appears to be associated with a reduction in systemic inflammatory markers in MI survivors. This finding may – at least partly – explain the beneficial effects of this diet on various chronic conditions such as atherosclerosis and cancer.
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