Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Adherence and Plasma Lipids Profile - Abstract
We sought to explore whether the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with better plasma lipid profile, regardless of obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Adult outpatients free of clinical cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, previously diagnosed Dyslipidemia and any lipid-lowering medications, were considered. The following features were assessed: HDL and total cholesterol, triglycerides and total to HDL cholesterol ratio. Insulin resistance was assessed through HOMA index. The adherence to Mediterranean dietary (Med Diet) pattern was assessed through a validated 14-item questionnaire.
Twenty-two out of fifty subjects adhered to Med Diet. Subjects with low adherence had higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and poorer plasma lipids profile and insulin resistance state. The bivariate regression analysis showed an inverse trend between Med Diet score and total to HDL cholesterol ratio (r= -0.417; p= 0.003) and triglycerides (r= -0.355; p= 0.01), and a positive trend with HDLc (r= 0.279; p=0.04). When multivariable regression models were constructed, the higher Med Diet score predicted higher HDLc (?= 0.340; SE (?)= 0.109; p= 0.016) and lower total to HDLc ratio (?= -0.437; SE(?)= 0.011; p= 0.007) and triglycerides (?= -0.893; SE(?)= 0.438; p= 0.043). Interestingly, whole and abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and presence of metabolic syndrome did not affect the associations.
Med Diet may be associated to favorable plasma lipids profile, independently of being overweight / obese and having insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Further investigations will assess whether the adoption of Med Diet may prevent metabolic disorders and reduce the rate of progression towards clinical cardiovascular diseases.