Following a Mediterranean diet appears to be more effective for reducing progression of atherosclerosis among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), compared to following a low-fat diet, suggest data from the CORDIOPREV randomized controlled trial.

This is the first study to determine an effective dietary strategy for secondary cardiovascular prevention. It emphasizes that the Mediterranean diet, rich in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), could play a role in preventing the progression of atherosclerosis, report study authors. The study findings also suggest that patients with a higher atherosclerotic burden might attain the most benefit from a Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet led to a significant reduction inintima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries (IMT-CC) after 5 years and 7 years, compared to baseline. However, the low-fat diet was tied to no change in IMT-CC after 5 or 7 years. The findings are reported in the journal Stroke… (Medscape)