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What is the best diet for cardiovascular wellness? A comparison of different nutritional models

International Journal of Obesity Supplements volume 10, pages 50–61 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent to date the leading cause of mortality in both genders in the developed countries. In this context, a strong need for CVD prevention is emerging through lifestyle modification and nutrition. In fact, several studies linked CVD with unhealthy nutrition, alcohol consumption, stress, and smoking, together with a low level of physical activity. Thus, the primary aim is to prevent and reduce CVD risk factors, such as impaired lipid and glycemic profiles, high blood pressure and obesity. Different types of diet have been, therefore, established to optimize the approach regarding this issue such as the Mediterranean diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet (DASH), vegetarian diet, ketogenic diet, and Japanese diet. Depending on the diet type, recommendations generally emphasize subjects to increase vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and pulses consumption, but discourage or recommend eliminating red meat, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages, along with processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, fat, or low in dietary fiber. In particular, we evaluated and compared the peculiar aspects of these well-known dietary patterns and, thus, this review evaluates the critical factors that increase CVD risk and the potential application and benefits of nutritional protocols to ameliorate dietary and lifestyle patterns for CVD prevention.

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Acknowledgements

Obesity Programs of nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment (OPERA) group members served as collaborators and approved the final version of the paper: Colao Annamaria, Savastano Silvia, Barrea Luigi, Muscogiuri Giovanna, Alviggi Carlo, Angrisani Luigi, Annunziata Giuseppe, Beguinot Francesco, Belfiore Annamaria, Belfiore Antonino, Bellastella Giuseppe, Biondi Bernadette, Bonaduce Domenico, Bordoni Laura, Brasacchio Caterina, Capaldo Brunella, Caprio Massimiliano, Cataldi Mauro, Cignarelli Angelo, Cittadini Antonello, Conforti Alessandro, Cuomo Rosario, De Placido Giuseppe, De Siena Marina, Di Carlo Costantino, Di Luigi Luigi, Di Nisio Andrea, Di Renzo Laura, Di Somma Carolina, Docimo Ludovico, Donini Lorenzo Maria, Federici Massimo, Foresta Carlo, Gabbianelli Rosita, Gambineri Alessandra, Gastaldelli Amalia, Giallauria Francesco, Giardiello Cristiano, Gnessi Lucio, Guida Brunella, Laudisio Daniela, Lenzi Andrea, Macchia Paolo Emidio, Manno Emilio, Marzullo Paolo, Migliaccio Silvia, Muratori Fabrizio, Musella Mario, Nardone Gerardo, Nicasto Vincenzo, Piazza Luigi, Pilone Vincenzo, Pivari Francesca, Pivonello Rosario, Pugliese Gabriella, Riccardi Gabriele, Ritieni Alberto, Salzano Ciro, Sanduzzi Alessandro, Sbraccia Paolo, Sesti Giorgio, Soldati Laura, Taglialatela Maurizio, Trimarco Bruno, Tuccinardi Dario.

Funding

The 2019 OPERA meeting was organized by Panta Rei Srl and sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Therascience, Bruno Pharma, Merck, Savio Pharma Italia Srl, IBSA Institut Biochimique SA, Bioitalia Srl, Cohesion Pharmaceutical, and Specchiasol Srl. Publication of this article as part of a supplement was sponsored by Panta Rei Srl, Naples, Italy. The meeting sponsors and organizer did not have access to the papers and the authors maintained control of the content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Health Sciences Section, University “Foro Italico”, Rome, Italy

    Silvia Migliaccio

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Caterina Brasacchio & Francesca Pivari

  3. Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Unit of Endocrinology, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Ciro Salzano, Luigi Barrea, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Silvia Savastano & Annamaria Colao

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  1. Silvia Migliaccio
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on behalf of Obesity Programs of nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment (OPERA) Group

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The authors’ responsibilities were as follows: SM, CB, FP, and CS: were responsible for the concept of this paper and drafted the paper; LB, GM, SS, and AC: provided a critical review of the paper. OPERA Group members participated to the revision of the paper. All authors and OPERA Group Members contributed to and agreed on the final version of the paper.

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Correspondence to Silvia Migliaccio.

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Migliaccio, S., Brasacchio, C., Pivari, F. et al. What is the best diet for cardiovascular wellness? A comparison of different nutritional models. Int J Obes Supp 10, 50–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41367-020-0018-0

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