Scope. To assess whether following a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) improved
atherothrombosis biomarkers in high cardiovascular risk individuals.
Methods and results. In 358 random volunteers from the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea trial, we assessed the 1-year effects on atherothrombosis markers of an
intervention with MedDiet, enriched with virgin olive oil (MedDiet-VOO; n=120) or nuts
(MedDiet-Nuts; n=119) versus a low-fat control diet (n=119). We also studied whether large increments in MedDiet adherence (≥3 score points, relative to compliance
decreases) and intake changes in key food items were associated with 1-year differences
in biomarkers. We observed differences between 1-year changes in the MedDiet-VOO intervention and control diet on the activity of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase in
HDLs (+7.5% [95% confidence interval: 0.17; 14.8]) and HDL-bound α1-antitrypsin levels (-
6.1% [-11.8; -0.29]), and between the MedDiet-Nuts intervention and the control arm on non-esterified fatty acid concentrations (-9.3% [-18.1; -0.53]). Large MedDiet adherence
increments were associated with less fibrinogen (-9.5% [-18.3; -0.60]) and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations (-16.7% [-31.7; -1.74]). Increases in nut, fruit, vegetable, and fatty
fish consumption, and decreases in processed meat intake were linked to beneficial changes in atherothrombosis biomarkers.
Conclusion. Following a MedDiet improved atherothrombosis biomarkers in high cardiovascular risk individual
