Two new studies show the benefits of the Mediterranean diet

Researchers at the University of Barcelona and Clinic Hospital, Barcelona working with other centres have found that beneficial substances present in the Mediterranean diet (fruit and vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, fish and small quantities of meat amongst other features such as olive oil and few animal fats) help to protect people at risk of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses.

The researchers followed a group of men of 55-80 and women of 60-80 years of age who were all healthy at the start of the trial but were at high risk of developing an illness because they had type 2 diabetes or three of the following major risk factors: smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, they were overweight or obese, or had a family history of premature coronary heart disease.   They were put into three groups: the first ate the MedDiet (Mediterranean diet) supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), the second group ate the  MedDiet supplemented with mixed nuts and the third group just followed a normal low-fat diet.

They were followed up for an average of 4.8 years by means of questionnaires about their diets and medical tests and check-ups, but the trial was stopped as people in the MedDiet groups showed clear health benefits.

A similar effect was found for people eating virgin olive oil (<1%).  A second study concluded that olive oil, especially the extra-virgin variety, is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and fewer early deaths of people who have a high risk of cardio-vascular disease.

The GCAT data will provide a lot more information of this type.   Like this study it is a prospective study, this means that it takes information from people who are well and it follows them to see what happens.  This study only looks at external factors (diet, smoking) and risk factors due to illnesses that have already appeared (diabetes, family history of cardiovascular disease); the GCAT study will be able to look at the information coded in the genome of the participants, the hand of cards they are born with, and this will allow much more detailed information to be discovered.  

In the future we will be able to examine the genome of healthy people and identify who is at risk and help them to prevent diseases developing.  The same information will also help doctors decide which treatments will work for each person.