Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Mediterranean Diet in the Early and Late Stages of Atheroma Plaque Development
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of the participants at high risk for cardiovascular disease included in the study and classified according to the dietary intervention administered.
MeDiet+EVOO
MeDiet+nuts
Low-fat diet
2
Age, years
67.8 ± 4.81
66.0 ± 5.8
66.0 ± 7.1
0.50
Men, n (%)
10 (46)1
12 (55)
9 (41)
0.66
Family history of CHD, n (%)
5 (23)
4 (18)
7 (32)
0.56
Smoking status, n (%)
0.33
Never smoked
17 (72)
12 (55)
14 (64)
Former smoker
4 (18)
6 (27)
3 (14)
Current smoker
1 (4)
4 (18)
5 (22)
BMI, kg/m2
29.7 ± 3.7
30.4 ± 3.2
28.5 ± 3.6
0.20
BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, n (%)
22 (100)
21 (96)
20 (90)
0.29
Waist circumference, cm
101 ± 10
106 ± 7
102 ± 7
0.11
Type 2 diabetes, n (%)
16 (73)
15 (68)
13 (59)
0.62
Hypertension, n (%)
18 (82)
18 (82)
14 (64)
0.27
Dyslipidemia, n (%)
10 (46)
13 (64)
13 (64)
0.58
Medications, n (%)
ACE inhibitors
2 (9)
3 (14)
5 (23)
0.44
Diuretics
4 (18)
5 (23)
4 (18)
0.91
Other antihypertensive agents
1 (5)
2 (9)
1 (5)
0.77
Statins
4 (18)
5 (23)
4 (18)
0.91
Other lipid-lowering agents
1 (5)
0 (0)
2 (9)
0.35
Insulin
1 (5)
3 (14)
3 (14)
0.53
Oral hypoglycemic drugs
9 (41)
8 (36)
9 (41)
0.94
Aspirin or antiplatelet drugs
1 (5)
6 (27)
3 (14)
0.11
NSAIDS
3 (14)
6 (27)
3 (14)
0.40
1Values are means ± SDs, n = 22 unless expressed otherwise. 2From Pearson’s chi-square test for categorical variables and one-factor ANOVA for continuous variables. ACE: angiotensin-converting enzyme; BMI: body mass index; CHD: coronary heart disease; EVOO: extra virgin olive oil; MeDiet+EVOO: Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil; MeDiet+nuts: Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts; NSAIDS: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
