It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide: cardiovascular diseases. Among the most common risk factors are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, physical inactivityobesity or a diet rich in saturated fats and salt. Also, “Prevention of cardiovascular diseases must begin early in life,” note researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the United States, in the preamble to new research.
The latter underline the place that the application of the Mediterranean diet from childhood and adolescence. Indeed, according to them, this would reduce the risk of heart disease as adults. However, they specify that it is recommended to consult a health professional to adapt the diet according to the child’s needs. Their results are published in the revue Jama Network Open.
Mediterranean diet may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood
To arrive at these results, the researchers analyzed data from 9 studies, including a panel of 577 participants whose ages ranged from 3 years to 18 years. The researchers had access to information on cardiometabolic biomarkers such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels. The studies asked the volunteers to follow eating habits similar to those adopted as part of the Mediterranean diet.
As a reminder, the Mediterranean diet is characterized by a balanced dietmarked by the consumption of fruits, vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes. It also includes an intake of olive oilas well as moderate consumption of fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs and alcohol. Finally, the consumption of red meat and ultra-processed foods is drastically reduced.
Mediterranean diet may reduce bad cholesterol and systolic blood pressure
The authors found that participants who followed the Mediterranean diet-based recommendations for at least 8 weeks had a reduction in systolic blood pressure“bad cholesterol” and increases in “good cholesterol”.
In their conclusions, the researchers emphasize that high systolic blood pressure during childhood is “associated with several intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease in adulthood”. In addition, high levels of “bad cholesterol” “are associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.”
The Mediterranean diet could be beneficial for the microbiota
Also, researchers believe that following a Mediterranean diet may “reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis (a chronic cardiovascular disease which accelerates the aging of the arteries by gradually reducing their diameter (Editor’s note) and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood”. While researchers are not certain, they point out that certain components found in the Mediterranean diet, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, and oily fish, provide a supply of healthy fats. This would help lower bad cholesterol, but also promote a healthy intestinal microbiota.
The authors point out some limitations to their study, such as the fact that other activities, not measured in this study, could play a role in reducing cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Source :
- Mediterranean Diet and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents – Jama Network Open (12/07/2024)
