Abstract
Metabolomics is improving the understanding of the mechanisms of the health effects of diet. Previous research has identified several metabolites associated with the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), but knowledge about longitudinal changes in metabolic biomarkers after a MedDiet intervention is scarce. A subsample of 48 firefighters from a cluster-randomized trial at Indianapolis fire stations was randomly selected for the metabolomics study at 12 months of follow up (time point 1), where Group 1 (n = 24) continued for another 6 months in a self-sustained MedDiet intervention, and Group 2 (n = 24), the control group at that time, started with an active MedDiet intervention for 6 months (time point 2). A total of 225 metabolites were assessed at the two time points by using a targeted NMR platform. The MedDiet score improved slightly but changes were non-significant (intervention: 24.2 vs. 26.0 points and control group: 26.1 vs. 26.5 points). The MedDiet intervention led to favorable changes in biomarkers related to lipid metabolism, including lower LDL-C, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, remnant cholesterol, M-VLDL-CE; and higher HDL-C, and better lipoprotein composition. This MedDiet intervention induces only modest changes in adherence to the MedDiet and consequently in metabolic biomarkers. Further research should confirm these results based on larger study samples in workplace interventions with powerful study designs.
Highlights
The understanding of diet-health relationships has gradually shifted from individual dietary components to overall dietary patterns that beneficially modulate metabolic physiology [1].In this regard, several epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that the traditionalMediterranean-style eating pattern has many health benefits [2,3], including beneficial changes in biomarkers of CVD risk [4,5]and lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [6,7,8].the exact mechanisms of the benefits of the Mediterranean-style dietary pattern have yet to be understood
Some cross-sectional studies such as the Whitehall II study showed that a healthy diet was associated with specific fatty acids that reduced the risk of CVD [27]
Similar results were found when we used the PREDIMED score instead of the MedDiet was measured with a self-reported scale (mMDS) (Figure S3). In this sub-study of firefighters in Indianapolis participating in a cluster-randomized Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) intervention trial, we found that the MedDiet intervention was associated with favorable changes in markers of cardiovascular risk, those related to the lipid metabolism that were non-significant after correcting for multiple testing
Summary
The understanding of diet-health relationships has gradually shifted from individual dietary components to overall dietary patterns that beneficially modulate metabolic physiology [1].In this regard, several epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that the traditionalMediterranean-style eating pattern (characterized by high intake of fruits and vegetables, olive oil, legumes, whole grains, and fish and moderate consumption of white meat, dairy and wine during meals) has many health benefits [2,3], including beneficial changes in biomarkers of CVD risk [4,5]and lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [6,7,8].the exact mechanisms of the benefits of the Mediterranean-style dietary pattern have yet to be understood. The understanding of diet-health relationships has gradually shifted from individual dietary components to overall dietary patterns that beneficially modulate metabolic physiology [1]. In this regard, several epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that the traditional. Mediterranean-style eating pattern (characterized by high intake of fruits and vegetables, olive oil, legumes, whole grains, and fish and moderate consumption of white meat, dairy and wine during meals) has many health benefits [2,3], including beneficial changes in biomarkers of CVD risk [4,5]. Some cross-sectional studies such as the Whitehall II study showed that a healthy diet was associated with specific fatty acids that reduced the risk of CVD [27]
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