Summary of Diet Slashes Women’s Cardiovascular Disease and Death Risk by Nearly 25%:
A new study published in Heart shows that sticking closely to a Mediterranean diet could reduce women’s risk of cardiovascular disease and death by nearly 25%. The study highlights the need for sex-specific research to guide clinical practice in heart health. The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil, moderate in fish/shellfish and wine, and low in red/processed meats, dairy products, animal fat, and processed foods. The various components of the diet, such as polyphenols, nitrates, omega-3 fatty acids, increased fiber intake, and reduced glycemic load, may all contribute to a better cardiovascular risk profile.
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The Mediterranean Diet can reduce cardiovascular disease risk in women by 25%, a new study finds
A new study published in the journal Heart has reported that following the Mediterranean diet closely can reduce a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease and death by almost 25%. This is the first-ever pooled data analysis from multiple studies focused on the impacts of the Mediterranean diet on women specifically. The research highlights the importance of gender-specific studies to inform clinical practices in heart health.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy eating plan inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of the Mediterranean region. It emphasizes consuming whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil as the primary fat sources. The diet also includes moderate amounts of fish and shellfish, low to an average intake of wine, and low consumption of red and processed meats, dairy products, animal fats, and processed foods.
The study
The study analyzed data from over 700,000 women aged 18 and above across 16 studies. They monitored the cardiovascular health of these women for an average of 12.5 years. The analysis showed that sticking closely to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 23% lower risk of death from any cause among women. The risk of coronary heart disease was 25% lower, while stroke was also lower; however, this finding was not statistically significant.
The study acknowledges various limitations, including that all the studies analyzed were observational and relied on self-reported food frequency questionnaires. While adjustments for potentially influential factors varied across the included studies, they found that no single study significantly affected the results.
Gender-specific research is important.
Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than a third of all female deaths worldwide. Yet, most relevant clinical trials have included relatively few women or have not reported the results by sex. The researchers, therefore, call for more sex-specific research to guide clinical practice in heart health.
Female-specific cardiovascular risk factors, such as premature menopause, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes, or female-predominant risk factors, such as systemic lupus, can all independently increase cardiovascular disease risk. It is possible that preventative measures, such as the Mediterranean diet, that targets inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk factors, impose differing effects in women compared with men.
Conclusion
The Mediterranean diet has numerous health benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, improved weight management, and overall longevity. Healthcare providers must, therefore, encourage women to incorporate a Mediterranean-style diet to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and improve their overall health. The study’s findings reinforce the need for more sex-specific research in cardiology.
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