Effects of Mediterranean diets on kidney function: a report from the PREDIMED trial.

Background: Epidemiologic observations have linked healthy dietary patterns to improved kidney function.

Study Design: We assessed the effects of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on kidney function in both a cross-sectional assessment and after a 1-year intervention in a cohort of the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) Study, a multicenter 3-arm randomized clinical trial to determine the efficacy of the MedDiet on primary cardiovascular prevention.

Setting & Participants: Community-dwelling men aged 55-80 years and women aged 60-80 years at high risk of cardiovascular disease from Reus, Spain.

Effect of a traditional Mediterranean diet on apolipoproteins B, A-I, and their ratio: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objectives: Apolipoprotein (Apo)B, ApoA-I, and their ratio could predict coronary heart disease (CHD) risk more accurately than conventional lipid measurements. Our aim was to assess the effect of a traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD) on apolipoproteins.

Methods: High-cardiovascular risk subjects (n=551, 308 women and 243 men), aged 55-80 years, were recruited into a large, multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, clinical trial (The PREDIMED Study) aimed at testing the efficacy of TMD on primary cardiovascular disease prevention.

Effect of a traditional Mediterranean diet on lipoprotein oxidation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Despite the richness in antioxidants of the Mediterranean diet, to our knowledge, no randomized controlled trials have assessed its effect on in vivo lipoprotein oxidation.

Methods: A total of 372 subjects at high cardiovascular risk (210 women and 162 men; age range, 55-80 years), who were recruited into a large, multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial (the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea [PREDIMED] Study) directed at testing the efficacy of the traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD) on the primary prevention of coronary heart disease, were assigned to a low-fat diet (n = 121) or one of 2 TMDs (TMD + virgin olive oil or TMD + nuts). The TMD participants received nutritional education and either free virgin olive oil for all the family (1 L/wk) or free nuts (30 g/d).

Postprandial and short-term effects of dietary virgin olive oil on oxidant/antioxidant status.

It is generally believed that virgin olive oil consumption has beneficial effects, but little is known about its effects postprandially on oxidant/antioxidant status. The aim of this study was to determine changes in oxidative stress biomarkers and lipid profile after a single dose of virgin olive oil and after 1 wk of daily consumption. Sixteen subjects (9 men, 7 women) ingested 50 mL of virgin olive oil in a single dose.