Nutrition Bytes

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States as well as in many developing and developed countries. However, several studies studying the epidemiology of CHD across the world have found that there is a significantly lower incidence in Japan and Mediterranean Southern Europe, a difference which was found to be independent of serum cholesterol levels. The traditional Mediterranean diet consists of a high intake of olive oil as an important fat source, resulting in a high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and a low intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA). Studies have shown that MUFA or PUFA, as opposed to SFAs, decrease plasma total cholesterol levels as well as low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. In addition, MUFAs, because they only have one double bond, are more resistant to oxidative modification and entrance into the oxLDL atherogenic pathway. Recent studies on the Mediterranean diet show that adherence to the diet is associated with a 33-39% lower mortality rate from CHD as well as drops in inflammatory markers of endothelial function. This data supports the Mediterranean diet tangible lifestyle modification patients can make in order to lower their risk of coronary artery disease.