Southern European Atlantic Diet helps prevent heart attack

A new study reported in the May 19, 2010 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition  suggests that eating a Southern European Atlantic Diet may help prevent heart attacks. 

The research showed a 33 percent reduction in heart attack risk and was observed in those who maintain a diet similar to the Southern European Atlantic Diet. 

The diet is traditionally maintained in northern Portugal and Galicia, a region in northwest Spain where incidence of heart attack is very low; researchers wanted to know if the diet is associated with the low risk. 

For the study, Andreia Oliveira and colleagues from University of Porto Medical School in Porto, Portugal enlisted 820 patients who had suffered heart attacks and 2196 people who did not experience a cardiovascular event. 

All participants were surveyed for their dietary habits and incidence of myocardial infarction. Each participant's diet was assessed for its adherence to the Sothern European Atlantic Diet based on 9 key components, including fresh fish, cod, red meat and pork products, dairy products, legumes, and vegetables, vegetable soup, potatoes, whole grain bread and wine.

After an adjustment for the main confounders, 1-point increment on the adherence scale was associated with a 10 percent reduced risk for heart attacks. 

Those whose diet had highest adherence to the SEAD were 33 percent less likely to experience a heart attack than those who did not adhere to the diet as faithfully.

Here is something Andreia Oliveira, author of the study, told us about the diet.  We appreciate her input.

"The Southern European Atlantic Diet is a characteristic diet of regions with a straight link with the Atlantic Ocean (particularly Northern Portugal and Galicia, Spain) sharing a specific high consumption of fish and other sea foods, red meats, vegetables and whole foods, and wine consumption during meals."