Health Hotline Magazine | August 2024

Cardiovascular Health In the past few decades, a number of epidemiological and clinical studies have evaluated the effects of a MD on total cardiovascular mortality, and all concluded that adherence to the traditional MD is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. Until recently, though, the actual biological mechanisms were not fully understood. But modern science is beginning to shed some light on just how the MD supports cardiovascular health. One study of nearly 1,000 subjects who were at a high risk for CVD found that those adhering to a MD had reduced blood pressure, improved lipid profile, and improved insulin resistance, compared to those subjects following a low-fat diet. Additionally, the researchers found that virgin olive oil and nuts (both components of a MD) down-regulated several markers of inflammation, including CRP and interleukin-6 levels. It is well-documented that inflammation is an underly ing cause of CVD.

Another study found that polyphenols in virgin olive oil down-regulated the expression of atherosclerosis-related genes. The polyphenols also had a significant impact on the expression of genetic changes influencing coronary heart disease. This study, too, found that the consumption of virgin olive oil, in conjunction with a MD, positively impacted lipid and DNA oxidation, insulin resistance, and inflammation.

Brain Health Although the MD was first studied in relation to cardiovascular health, more researchers have begun investigating the effects the diet has on the rest of the body, including the brain. Recent research has correlated adherence to a MD with slower cognitive decline, a reduced risk of dementia, including Alzhei mer’s disease, and decreased mortality in Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers point to the MD’s ability to decrease inflammation and oxidation as potential mechanisms in protecting the brain. Using a point system to see how closely subjects adhered to the MD, with higher scores indicating eating patterns that closely followed the MD, one study found that those in the top one-third of the scores had 68 percent lower odds of having Alzheimer’s than those in the bottom one-third. Those in the middle one-third had 53 percent lower odds. A more recent study looking at dementia had similar results: those who had the highest adherence to the MD had a 72 percent lower risk for developing dementia.

Still other studies have associated the MD with a lower risk of depression. A study following 10,094 healthy men and women found that individuals who followed the diet most closely had greater than a 30 percent reduction in the risk of depression. Again, the researchers pointed to the MD’s ability to lower inflammation and oxidation, while improving blood vessel function as potential mechanisms for promoting normal brain function.

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