Study Finds Mediterranean Diet Rich With Virgin Olive Oil Boosts HDL Function

In a recent study researchers have found the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function is improved for those who are with high-cardiovascular risk if follows having Mediterranean diet rich in virgin olive oil.

Montserrat Fito, MD, PhD, coordinator of the Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona said the said diet could protect the cardiovascular health by making good cholesterol work in better way as well as in several other ways too.

Daniel J. Radar, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, said the new finding gives them a better understanding of how dietary intervention can affect the HDL functionality.

Details of the report were published in Circulation journal and Radar was part of the editorial. Fito led the research work with colleagues from the institute.

Meanwhile, pharmacological means are still being tried and tested in promoting HDL CEC with different pills and medications. The new finding shows a Mediterranean diet is a practical lifestyle that is primarily aimed at improving the HDL function. It has also reduced cardiovascular risk as well as the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

The researchers studied about 300 people who were at high risk of cardiovascular disease and their mean age was 66. Blood samples of the subjects were taken beginning of the study and after 1 year when the study ended.

Three diets were assigned and those are as below:

Traditional Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil and each day about 4 tablespoons were suggested.

Traditional Mediterranean diet with extra nuts and about a fistful was suggested to take each day.

Healthy control diet that was less of red meat, high-fat dairy products, processed food and sweets.

The researchers assessed effects of the diets on the role of HDL particles on reverse cholesterol transport, HDL antioxidant properties and HDL vasodilatory capacity.

They studied too about effects of a TMD on several HDL quality-related characteristics.

The researchers were surprised to find low-fat diet that was rich in vegetables and fruits resulted with negative impact on HDL’s anti-inflammatory properties.

Future studies are warranted to investigate the new finding and its mechanism. As of now this is just useful to remind Mediterranean diet is beneficial even through unexpected mechanisms.

At last, it is important to note one should take care of cardiovascular health through cheap and healthy diet.

Though no financial disclosures were made, but it is learned the research was funded by Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.