Study design
premature CVD, alcohol addiction, allergy, low high-density lipoprotein, overweight or obesity
HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA, HYPERTENSION, CVD, CHRONIC ILLNESS, ALLERGY, HEART, TYPE 2 DIABETES
This study was carried out in the frame of the PREDIMED study, a multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted in Spain from 2003 to 2010 designed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on the primary prevention of CVD in a population at high cardiovascular risk. Participants were aged between 55 and 80 years and had no CVD at enrollment, but they were at high risk because of the presence of type 2 diabetes or at least three of the following risk factors: current smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, overweight or obesity, and family history of premature CVD. Exclusion criteria included any severe chronic illness, drug or alcohol addiction, or allergy or intolerance to olive oil or nuts, two key supplemental foods. In the main study, participants were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: a MedDiet supplemented with virgin olive oil, a MedDiet supplemented with mixed nuts, or a low-fat diet according to the American Heart Association guidelines (control group). A complete description of the PREDIMED study protocol can be found on the study website (