Cardiovascular Disease and the Mediterranean Diet: Insights into Sex-Specific Responses

Pant, Anushriya; Chew, Derek P.; Mamas, Mamas A.; Zaman, Sarah

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality and disease burden in women globally. A healthy diet is important for the prevention of CVD. Research has consistently favoured the Mediterranean diet as a cardio-protective diet. Several studies have evaluated associations between the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular outcomes, including traditional risk factors like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. In addition, consistent evidence suggests that the components of the Mediterranean diet have a synergistic effect on cardiovascular risk due to its anti-inflammatory profile and microbiome effects. While the benefits of the Mediterranean diet are well-established, health advice and dietary guidelines have been built on largely male-dominant studies. Few studies have investigated the beneficial associations of the Mediterranean diet in sex-specific populations, including those with non-traditional risk factors that are specific to women, for instance polycystic ovarian syndrome and high-risk pregnancies, or more prevalent in women, such as chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence regarding the Mediterranean diet in women in relation to cardiovascular health outcomes.

Citation

Pant, A., Chew, D. P., Mamas, M. A., & Zaman, S. (in press). Cardiovascular Disease and the Mediterranean Diet: Insights into Sex-Specific Responses. Nutrients, 16(4), Article 570. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040570

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 19, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2024
• Journal: Nutrients
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 570
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040570
• Keywords: Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics