A new study in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that American men and women with previous cardiovascular disease can reduce the risk of premature death by following a Mediterranean diet. The study based on data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and the Nurses’ Health Study shows those who followed a Mediterranean diet closely were 20% less likely to die from all causes during the follow-up and 15% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease during the follow-up.  For the study, 6137 men and 11278 women with myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, coronary bypass and coronary angioplasty were followed for 7.7 years and 5.8 years on average, respectively.  Men and women in the quintile of highest scores on adherence to a Mediterranean diet were 19% 15%, 15%, and 21% less likely to die from all causes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes respectively during the follow-up, compared with those in the quintile of lowest scores.  Specifically, a 2-point increase in adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 7% reduced risk of total mortality.  E Lopez-Garcia from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Madrid, Spain and colleagues conducted the study. (David Liu)