1. Background
obesity, cardiometabolic and cognitive health outcomes [, cardiovascular disease, diabetes [A
OBESITY, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, CVD, METABOLIC DISEASES, METABOLIC SYNDROME, DYSLIPIDEMIA
These authors contributed equally to this work.The impact of a Mediterranean diet on the intestinal microbiome has been linked to its health benefits. We aim to evaluate the effects of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with dairy foods on the gut microbiome in Australians at risk of cardiovascular disease. In a randomised controlled cross-over study, 34 adults with a systolic blood pressure ≥120 mmHg and with risk factors for cardiovascular disease were randomly allocated to a Mediterranean diet with 3–4 daily serves of dairy foods (Australian recommended daily intake (RDI) of 1000–1300 mg per day (MedDairy)) or a low-fat (LFD) control diet. Between each 8-week diet, participants underwent an 8-week washout period. Microbiota characteristics of stool samples collected at the start and end of each diet period were determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. MedDairy-associated effects on bacterial relative abundance were correlated with clinical, anthropometric, and cognitive outcomes. No change in the overall faecal microbial structure or composition was observed with either diet (Diet is a fundamental determinant of metabolic health and immune regulation. There is clear evidence linking the impact of dietary patterns on the development of metabolic diseases, including obesity [Long-term dietary patterns also play an important role in shaping the intestinal commensal microbiota [The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is characterised by high consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, cereals, and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO); moderate consumption of fish, eggs, poultry, dairy foods, and red wine; and low consumption of red meat (animal proteins) and discretionary foods, including cakes, sweets, and fast foods [Epidemiology-based studies have reported that higher adherence to the MedDiet is associated with lower prevalence of central obesity, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and a reduced risk of diabetes [A traditional MedDiet provides approximately 700–820 mg of calcium per day, which is below the Australian recommended daily intake (RDI) of 1000–1300 mg per day [The recommended calcium intake varies between populations, in accordance with health-related behaviours and the relative risk of calcium-related health outcomes [We undertook a MedDairy dietary intervention trial in an Australian adult population at risk of CVD to evaluate whether a MedDiet enriched with dairy products promotes beneficial cardiometabolic and cognitive health outcomes [