Mediterranean diet improves lipid profiles over three months.

Flynn, G.; Colquhoun, D.

Objective: To assess the effect on lipid profiles of a Mediterranean type diet which has previously been shown to be effective at weight loss over 3 months. Background: Increasing foods rich in Monounsaturated fat (MUFA) may be preferable to the usually prescribed low total fat diets for weight loss. A Mediterranean diet which is high in MUFA but not energy-dense has been shown to be effective at weight loss both short term (3 months) and long term (12 months). This study looks at the changes in lipid profile in those individuals who had no lipid lowering medication before or during the diet program and remained compliant with the diet for 3 months. Methods: A Mediterranean diet program has previously been shown to be effective at weight loss both short term and long term. Approximately 28% of individuals remain compliant with the program for the recommended 3 months and those individuals are more likely to achieve long-term weight loss at 12 months. Fasting lipid levels were tested before commencing the diet and on completing 3 months of the program. Those individuals who were on lipid lowering medication before or during the 3-month program were excluded from the study. Results: 155 patients were included in the study of whom, 31(20%) were male. Mean age 55 yrs, starting weight was 88.9 kgs and starting BMI 32.3. Mean weight loss was 7.6 kgs. Mean total cholesterol (TC) reduced minimally from 5.59 mmol/1 to 5.55 mmol/1 at three months. Mean triglyceride level reduced by 31.6% from 1.58 mmol/1 to 1.08 mmol/1 and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) increased by 9.6% from 1.46mmol/1 to 1.60mmol/1. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) remained essentially unchanged from a mean of 3.47mmol/1 before the diet to 3.43mmol/1 after 3 months. Conclusion: A Mediterranean diet is effective for weight loss over three months and has early favourable effect on HDL and Triglyceride levels and a neutral effect on TC and LDL levels.

REDUCING diets; MEDITERRANEAN cooking; WEIGHT loss; LIPIDS; HIGH density lipoproteins; LOW density lipoproteins; CHOLESTEROL; TRIGLYCERIDES

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004, Vol 13, pS138

0964-7058

Academic Journal