The latest study conducted by Ekavi Georgousopoulou, a Ph.D. candidate at Harokopio University in Athens, Greece, and Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Ph.D., professor at Harokopio University, revealed that following the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of developing a heart disease over a ten-year period by 47 per cent. The study, "Adherence to Mediterranean is the Most Important Protector Against the Development of Fatal and Non-Fatal Cardiovascular Event: 10-Year Follow-up (2002-12) Of the Attica Study," found that it was more beneficial than physical activity.

Several research in the past also revealed that the Mediterranean diet is best for the heart's health. This study, however, is the first of its kind as it takes into account a ten-year heart disease risk in the general population, researchers state in the press release. The study did not concentrate on any specific age group or gender. Georgousopoulou explains that the diet is beneficial for people irrespective of their age, gender and health conditions.

According to Mayo Clinic, the diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. It recommends a limited intake of red meat and a more frequent intake of fish and poultry. The diet also gives way for a frequent consumption of healthy fats in place of unhealthy fats like butter. Panagiotakos states that this the diet not only benefits the heart directly but also helps manage diabetes, hypertension and inflammation.

For the study, 2500 Greek adults were taken into consideration. They belonged to varied age groups starting from 18 to 89 and their health conditions were recorded annually from 2001 to 2012. Their medical records, lifestyle and dietary habits were also recorded three times during the study – at the beginning, after five years and at the end.

Towards the end, they found that nearly 20 per cent of the males and 12 per cent of the females either developed a heart condition or died from heart disease. They marked the participants from 1 to 55 depending on their diet and the level of intake of 11 food groups. It was observed that those who followed the Mediterranean diet strictly were 47 per cent less likely to develop heart diseases when compared to those who did not follow it over the ten-year period. “Each one-point increase in the dietary score was associated with a 3 percent drop in heart disease risk,” researchers stated in the press release.

Their observation was independent of factors such as age, gender, family history, education level, body mass index, smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. The researchers stated that they adjusted for these aspects in their analysis. Georgousopoulou stated that the diet is based on food groups that are easy to find, so it is possible for people around the world to follow this dietary pattern. He states that this would help everyone’s heart health.

The study is to be presented at the American College of Cardiology's 64th Annual Scientific Session in San Diego on March 15.

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