Abstract
Background: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet seems to be inversely associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration. A 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) has been developed to assess dietary compliance. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether each of the MEDAS questions as well as their final score were associated with the levels of CRP in general Spanish population. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 1411 subjects (mean age 61 years, 43.0% males) randomly selected from the general population. CRP levels were determined by a commercial ELISA kit. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the 14-point MEDAS. Results: There was an inverse correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the CRP concentration, even after adjusting by age, gender, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, body mass index, statin treatment and hypertension treatment (p = 0.041). Subjects who consume ≥2 servings of vegetables per day (p = 0.003), ≥3 pieces of fruit per day (p = 0.003), ≥1 serving of butter, margarine, or cream per day (p = 0.041) or ≥3 servings of fish/seafood per week (p = 0.058) had significantly lower levels of CRP. Conclusions: Adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet measured by a simple questionnaire is associated with lower CRP concentration. However, this association seems to be particularly related to a higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and fish.
Highlights
Low-grade systemic inflammation seems to play a role in the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease [1]
There was an inverse correlation between the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score and the C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration (B = −0.034, (CI95% −0.062 – (−0.005)), p = 0.019) even after adjusting by age, gender, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, body mass index, statins treatment and hypertension treatment (B = −0.030, (CI95% −0.058 – (−0.001)), p = 0.042) (Table 2)
In our population-based sample, including subjects between 45 and 74 years, adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet, determined by a simple questionnaire of 14 questions, was inversely related to CRP levels. These lower levels of CRP were associated with a greater consumption of some typical components of Mediterranean diet and dairy products
Summary
Low-grade systemic inflammation seems to play a role in the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease [1]. C-reactive protein (CRP), the best studied marker of subclinical inflammation, is an acute phase inflammatory reactant that is synthesized in the liver by the stimulation of interleukin-6 and has been proposed as a powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease. CRP concentration has been consistently associated with the risk of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, vascular mortality, and death [2]. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet seems to be inversely associated with. A 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether each of the MEDAS questions as well as their final score were associated with the levels of CRP in general Spanish population. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the 14-point
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