Dietetic Management of Lipid Profile in an Adult Population from the Italian Region of Abruzzo: Role of Mediterranean Diet

Abstract

Background: There has long been a lot of debate about the role of nutrition in the pathogenesis of cardio- vascular diseases. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially n-3 PUFAs are the types of fat that favor metabolic markers and represent central components of the Mediterranean diet, which is considered an ideal dietary pattern with great cardioprotective effect. Aim: This study aims to assess the influence of Mediterranean diet on lipid metabolism, compared to not-Mediterranean hypocaloric dietary patterns. Materials and Methods: This prospective clinical trial evaluated total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides and their modifications in a group of adults in relation to the two different kinds of diet: on the one hand the typical western dietetic pattern, characterized by higher intakes of red meat, dairy products and refined grains, low consumption of fruits and vegetables (L-diet), and the Mediterranean diet (M-diet).