Mediterranean and Low-Fat Diets Improve Endothelial Function in Hypercholesterolemic Men
Year: 2001
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The regulatory function of the endothelium is altered in hypercholesterolemia, and the subsequent endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the development of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic patients is affected by replacing a saturated fat-enriched diet with a low-fat, low-saturated fat diet (the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program stage 1 [NCEP-1] diet) or a diet rich in monounsaturated fat (such as that common in Mediterranean countries). DESIGN: Intervention dietary study with a baseline phase and two randomized crossover dietary periods. SETTING: Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. PATIENTS: 22 hypercholesterolemic men. INTERVENTION: Patients followed a diet high in saturated fat, then were assigned in a crossover design to the NCEP-1 diet or a Mediterranean diet. Each dietary period lasted 28 days. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma P-selectin levels, lipid concentrations, and endothelial function. RESULTS: Compared with the saturated fat diet, flow-mediated dilatation increased during the Mediterranean diet but not during the NCEP-1 diet. In addition, levels of plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and P-selectin decreased during the NCEP-1 and Mediterranean diets. CONCLUSION: In hypercholesterolemic men, diets low in fat (especially saturated fat) and diets rich in monounsaturated fats improve endothelial function.
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
Authors: Francisco Fuentes, José López-Miranda, Elias Sánchez, Francisco Sánchez, José Paez, Elier Paz-Rojas, Carmen Marín, Purificación Gómez, José Jimenez-Perepérez, José M. Ordovás, Francisco Pérez-Jiménez
Language: English
Topic: Nutritional Studies and Diet
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2161953598