A Pesco-Mediterranean diet of plants, nuts, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) and seafood, along with intermittent fasting, has strong cardioprotective evidence, according to a state-of-the-art review published Sept. 14 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

James H. O'Keefe, MD, et al., review the cumulative evidence regarding diet and health, incorporating data from clinical trials of the Mediterranean diet and recommendations from recent guidelines, to support the hypothesis that a Pesco-Mediterranean diet is ideal for optimizing cardiovascular health.

"Many epidemiological studies and randomized clinical trials indicate this traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with lower risks for all-cause and [cardiovascular disease] mortality, coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cognitive decline, neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease), depression, overall cancer mortality, and breast and colorectal cancers," write the authors of the review.

The review outlines why seafood is a key component to the Mediterranean diet; the health benefits of Mediterranean, vegetarian and Pesco-vegetarian diets; other components of the Mediterranean Diet, including EVOO, nuts and legumes; and intermittent fasting/time-restricted eating.

"For millennia, the traditional Mediterranean diet has been based predominantly on fresh whole foods, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive, with fish from the sea," write the authors of the review. "This style of eating bestows a range of health benefits, especially with respect to long-term cardiovascular health and longevity. The Pesco-Mediterranean diet with daily time-restricted eating (window of 8- to 12-hours) and emphasis on consuming fish and seafood as the principle source of animal protein, is proposed as an ideal cardioprotective diet."

Clinical Topics: Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease, Prevention, Diet, Sleep Apnea

Keywords: Diet, Mediterranean, Vegetables, Nuts, Metabolic Syndrome, Fruit, Cardiovascular Diseases, Fasting, Fabaceae, Alzheimer Disease, Olea, Longevity, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Depression

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