An analysis of existing studies has determined that meticulous compliance with a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in women by almost 25%.
Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for more than a third of all deaths worldwide. Although a healthy diet is an important part of prevention, relatively few women have been included in the majority of relevant studies, or the results were not reported by gender.
And existing recommendations for the best ways to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular disease do not differ in sex.
The researchers searched databases according to studies in which the potential effects of the consumption of a Mediterranean diet were examined on the cardiovascular health of women and the risk of death.
The Mediterranean diet is plentiful in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, nuts and legumes. Medium -heavy shellfish/fish consumption; Low to moderate in wine consumption; And low -processed foods, animal fats, dairy products and processed/red meat.
From a preliminary selection of 190 relevant studies, 16 were included in the data analysis. As a rule, they were carried out in Europe and the USA and included over 700,000 women aged 18, whose cardiovascular health became an average of 12.5 years.
The analysis results showed that meticulous compliance with a Mediterranean diet with a 24% reduced cardiovascular risk of illness and a 23% reduced risk of a cause of death in women was associated.
The coronary risk of heart diseases was 25% lower in people who were most meticulously observed in this diet, compared to people who were least captured, and although the risk of stroke was also lower, this was not statistically significant.
The exclusion of each of the studies individually from the analysis had no significant influence on the results, which supports a significant reverse connection between incident cardiovascular diseases and overall mortality with careful compliance with the Mediterranean diet in women.
Nevertheless, the researchers recognize several restrictions on the results, including the involvement that all analyzed studies were observing and based on self -reported questionnaires regarding the frequency of food. Potentially influential factor adjustments also varied in the enclosed studies.
However, the intestinal microbioma and the influence of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation are some of the possible explanations for the observed associations.
The various components of the diet, which include omega-3 fatty acids, nitrates, polyphenols, reduced glycemic stress and increased fiber intake, all could play a role in an improved cardiovascular risk profile.
The mechanisms that explain the gender-specific influence of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular diseases and dying and that dying are still unclear.
Women-specific risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as pregnancy diabetes, preeclampsia, premature menopause and or risk factors, which mainly female and systemic lupus, can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
It is possible that preventive measures such as a Mediterranean diet, which aims at inflammation and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, impose different types of effects compared to men.