Med diet better for the heart than statins, study reveals

A diet rich in oily fish, fruit and vegetables, and lashings of olive oil has been proven time and again to be good for the heart.

People who follow the eating habits of Mediterranean countries stand a greater chance of protecting the health of their heart than those prescribed blood pressure and other heart-protecting drugs such as statins, a major new study has found…

The “eating habits” mentioned in the study are a nod to the typical Mediterranean diet found in countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece (lashings of olive oil, loads of fresh fruit and veg, and a high proportion of fish), rather than a call for the world to adopt the peculiarly Spanish practice of cramming into small bodegas to share elbow space with fellow patrons eating small bites of tapas standing up.

That said, such socially inclusive dining methods probably do bring their own health benefits, but the study by the IRCCS Neuromed Institute in Italy focused purely on food intake. What the research found was that heart patients put on such a diet had their chances of an early death cut by a massive 37%, compared to an 18% cut in mortality among those prescribed statins.

The figures are not directly comparable, the researchers said, adding that many heart patients could well feel the benefits of adopting a Mediterranean diet AND being prescribed such pills.

However, the results raised eyebrows throughout the medical world when they were published last week, and build upon previous studies – and centuries of anecdotal proof – that have long held the health benefits of a typical Mediterranean diet in high esteem.

People who eat a diet rich in olive oil, fruit and vegetables, and oily fish ingest fewer types of fat and more nutrients, and this balance has been proven to guard against instances of diabetes, certain types of cancer, and heart disease due to the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of such foodstuffs.

According to Professor Giovanni de Gaetano, who headed up the study, a Mediterranean diet is “more powerful than any drug”. The professor also suggested that many European governments should consider subsidising the production of fruit and vegetables across the continent, and also offer free handouts of certain fruits and vegetables at doctor’s surgeries.

In the UK alone, seven million adults live with heart disease.

“We found that among those with a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet, death from any cause was reduced by 37% in comparison to those who poorly adhered to this dietary regime,” said de Gaetano. “The Mediterranean diet is widely recognised as one of the healthier nutrition habits in the world.

“In fact, many scientific studies have shown that a traditional Mediterranean lifestyle is associated with a lower risk of various chronic diseases and, more importantly, of death from any cause.

“But so far research has focused on the general population, which is mainly composed of healthy people. What happens to people who have already suffered from cardiovascular disease? Is the Mediterranean diet optimal for them too?”

The research has demonstrated that this is indeed the case, with those who eat such a diet showing a powerful effect in fighting such diseases. Combined with a course of statins, this two-pronged approach may also see increased benefits without the traditional side-effects of muscle pain.

The study tracked 1,200 Italians over the course of seven years. The participants all had heart disease and recorded their food intake over that period of time. Under a nine-point scoring system, their adherence to traditionally “Mediterranean foods” was monitored, and after controlling for other factors (such as smoking, weight, sex and level of exercise), the study saw an average 21% reduced risk of death from heart disease among those who followed the diet, with the strictest adherents seeing that number rise to 37%.

Spain offers many opportunities for people to follow such a diet, with most restaurants and all supermarkets heavily stocked with affordable ingredients. Combined with a relaxed, outdoors lifestyle and a benign climate, it is easy to see why Spaniards live longer than most other Europeans.