The Mediterranean Diet and Coronary Artery Disease: Evidence for Prevention and Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/120xkr70Keywords:
Coronary artery disease, Mediterranean diet, Dietary intervention.Abstract
Nowadays, the most prevalent form of cardiovascular disease is coronary artery disease, it is the major cause of global mortality. Although the acute rate can be reduced by drug or surgical treatment, the potential atherosclerotic process is hard to completely address. This review summarizes the current evidence on the etiology and pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) and evaluates the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) impact, indicating the importance of nutritional strategies. Evidence from some cohort studies and meta-analyses, as well as some randomized controlled trials, all show that strict adherence to the MedDiet is closely related to reducing the incidence of major cardiovascular events, reducing inflammation, improving blood lipid spectrum, and enhancing metabolic regulation. The key component including fruits, vegetables, legumes, extra virgin olive oil, and fiber, contribute to the disease prevention and management effect. However, there are some limitations that remain, such as the limitations of specific CAD trials, inconsistent dietary assessment methods, and challenges in long term adherence. Overall, this review highlights the MedDiet as an effective dietary approach for CAD prevention and emphasizes the need for targeted research and improved implementation strategies.
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