The Influence of Dietary Components on Early Signs of Atherosclerosis in Apparently Healthy Young-adult Males: An Observational Study of 615 Subjects.

Background: The literature shows that a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, has positive effects on overall cardiovascular risk, protecting against atherosclerosis.

Design: A cross sectional study in a population of apparently healthy young-adult men with the aim of investigating dietary determinants of early atherosclerosis, assessed by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery.

Methods: 615 males (mean age ± SD: 40.