Is Switching To A Mediterranean Diet Rather Than A Low-Fat Diet Better For Those At Risk Of Heart Disease?

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 09 Jun 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Help A Heart Week (June 4-12)

Research studies across a number of countries have noted that people who follow a Mediterranean diet have a lower rate of heart attacks and strokes and live longer.

However, in a new book Smart Health Choices, the authors argue that a recent randomised trial comparing a low-fat diet with a Mediterranean one, highlighted some doubts.

In a chapter entitled "Judging Which Test And Treatments Really Work", the authors are critical of the way the most recent trial was undertaken.

They state: "First, the researchers have mainly used surrogate outcome measures such as lipid levels and blood pressure. The additional benefits of a Mediterranean die over and above a low-fat one were statistically significant but possibly wouldn't have much of an effect on clinical outcomes such as survival or heart attack rates. Also, they followed people for only three months, so we don't know whether there was any effect on heart attack rates or survival.

"Second, when you look more closely, the Mediterranean diet group got more educational material and free supplies of virgin olive oil and nuts, whereas the low-fat diet group did not have any education and did not get low-fat products supplied free of charge. You should be able to see the potential for bias here. You might decide to switch to a Mediterranean diet because you prefer the flavours and because it is unlikely to do you any harm. However, there is no conclusive evidence that it will reduce your chance of a heart attack."

Smart Health Choices provides the reader with the tools for assessing health advice, whether it comes from a specialist, general practitioner, naturopath, the media, the Internet, or a friend. It shows individuals how to take an active role in their healthcare, and how to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones based on their personal preferences and the best available evidence.

* Today 2.6 million people in the UK are affected by coronary heart disease. The British Heart Foundation is totally committed to preventing heart disease devastating people's lives. It invests nearly £100 every minute of every day on lifesaving research to fight heart disease. The Help a Heart campaign is aiming to raise £1.5 million this June to continue to save more lives, and help keep more families together. For more information about supporting the Help a Heart campaign visit http://www.bhf.org.uk

About the authors

Les Irwig is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Sydney, Australia, and an internationally renowned authority on evidence-based medicine who is widely published in international medical journals. He has also run courses to help journalists and the public understand how to interpret and use health information.

Judy Irwig, wife of Professor Irwig, represents the healthcare consumer. Her non-medical background allows her to explain ideas in layman's language and avoid technical jargon or assumptions that can come from years of medical training.

Lyndal Trevena is a general practitioner and senior lecturer in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney. For more information about her work visit here.

Melissa Sweet is an Australian writer and journalist who has been reporting on health and medical issues for more than 15 years.

http://www.bhf.org.uk