Cardiovascular Disease

Randomized-trial reviews support cardiovascular benefits from Mediterranean dietary patterns, while certainty and methodological quality vary across outcomes and reviews.

• Do not attribute cardiovascular prevention to an individual ingredient based on these studies.

This study did not report a long-term health outcome.

• Source 1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38431146/
• Source 2: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39143663/

An umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials found Mediterranean dietary interventions were associated with reductions in some fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular outcomes. Evidence was more favorable in populations with established cardiovascular disease, but overall certainty and methodological quality were limited.

• Most reviews included in the umbrella review were rated low or critically low in methodological quality.
• Strength of evidence was generally weak.
• Effect estimates varied substantially across reviews and populations.
• Evidence appeared stronger in secondary-prevention populations than in primary prevention.
• Do not claim a Mediterranean diet guarantees prevention of cardiovascular disease.
• Do not attribute cardiovascular benefit to any single Mediterranean-diet food.
• Do not claim the dietary pattern cures or reverses cardiovascular disease.
• Do not imply dietary intervention replaces indicated medications or clinician-directed cardiovascular care.

Clinical cardiovascular outcomes were measured, but magnitude and certainty vary across populations and reviews. Preserve those limitations when describing long-term benefit.

• Source 1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39143663/
• Source 2: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38431146/