Effects of Diet and Simvastatin on Serum Lipids, Insulin, and Antioxidants in Hypercholesterolemic Men

Abstract

A modified Mediterranean-type diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids efficiently potentiated the cholesterol-lowering effect of simvastatin, counteracted the fasting insulin-elevating effect of simvastatin, and, unlike simvastatin, did not decrease serum levels of beta-carotene and ubiquinol-10.

Mediterranean diet has no effect on markers of inflammation and metabolic risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease

“…The present study also gives no support for a CRP or fibrinogen-decreasing effect of the Mediterranean diet. Reduction of insulin secretion through a Mediterranean diet was recently reported in a feeding study on untreated hypercholesterolaemic men (Jula et al, 2002); in contrast to our results, the intervention largely decreased serum lipids. In the recent study by Esposito et al (2004) on patients with metabolic syndrome, the Mediterranean diet decreased fasting insulin concentrations, but initial insulin levels were higher than in our patients and the diet induced significant weight loss.…”

Pilot randomized controlled trial of a Mediterranean diet or diet supplemented with fish oil, walnuts, and grape juice in overweight or obese US adults

“…This is consistent with the observation that these participants had declines in saturated fat and cholesterol intake and increases in monounsaturated, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acid intakes at 4 weeks. It is also consistent with several previous studies conducted in Europe and Brazil [ 5 , 22 – 25 ]. Of note, the improvements in nutrient intake among Mediterranean diet arm participants were attenuated by 8 weeks, as participants were no longer provided prepared meals, but simply given counseling and reinforcement by the research nutritionist.…”

Effect of the Mediterranean diet with and without weight loss on surrogate markers of cholesterol homeostasis in men with the metabolic syndrome

“…Our data suggest that part of the cholesterol-lowering properties of the MedDiet may be attributed to the reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption. The 8–10 % reduction in plasma total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations observed with the MedDiet in the present study ( 4 ) is comparable in magnitude with data from previous studies ( 18 ) . Escurriol et al ( 19 ) have suggested that even small increases in the intake of phytosterols from traditional Mediterranean foods may play a role in the cholesterol-lowering effect of the MedDiet.…”