Women who adhere to a Mediterranean diet reduce their risk of incident heart disease by 24% and total mortality by 23%, says a recent study from Australia published in the journal Heart.^1,2

In this meta-analysis, the researchers reviewed 16 studies involving 7,22,495 women. None of the participants included in the analysis had heart disease at the time of their enrollment. The study specifically set out to establish if adherence to a Mediterranean diet had a correlation with new-onset heart disease and mortality in women.

Analysis of data showed that women who followed the Mediterranean diet to a greater extent significantly reduced their overall risk of incident cardiovascular disease with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.76. Their total mortality was also lower (HR 0.77) as was the incidence of coronary heart disease (HR 0.75). Women with higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet were also at a lower risk of stroke (HR 0.87); however, this was statistically insignificant.

A healthy diet is a key component of strategies to prevent heart disease and stroke. It also reduces various cardiometabolic risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension.

A Mediterranean diet is a heart-friendly diet. It is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and beans and includes low to moderate amounts of low-fat/fat-free dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry. The major sources of fat are the non-tropical vegetable oils such as olive oil. The Mediterranean diet, however, restricts the consumption of sugary beverages, added sugars, excess salt, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and high-fat processed meats. The American Heart Association (AHA) also recommends a Mediterranean diet as a way of health eating.³

Heart disease is the major cause of death in women. The findings of this meta-analysis, which only had women participants, reaffirm the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet in primary prevention of heart disease and cardiac-related mortality, and show that it is “equally beneficial in women as it is in men”.²

References

1. Pant A, et al. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women with a Mediterranean diet: systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart. 2023 Mar 14:heartjnl-2022-321930. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321930.
2. https://www.healio.com/news/primary-care/20230321/women-who-adhere-to-mediterranean-diet-have-24-lower-cvd-risk. March 21, 2023. Accessed on March 30, 2023.
3. What is the Mediterranean Diet? Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/mediterranean-diet. Accessed on March 30, 2023.