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The latest news from the OHIS
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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
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Randomized controlled trials
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia and represents a high priority problem for public health, as it may become a unsustainable load for health systems within a few decades. Preventive and therapeutic strategies based on the best possible scientific evidence are required. Ablation therapy, despite being the most effective approach, is associated with a 30-35% arrhythmic recurrence rate. An intervention with Mediterranean Diet and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has proven effective in primary prevention and reduced the incidence of AF in high-risk subjects in a recent, large, randomized trial (PREDIMED). The PREDIMAR, an ongoing multicenter, randomized, single-blind trial, will test a similar intervention in secondary prevention.
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The Mediterranean Diet’s beneficial effects have been attributed not only to macronutrients, but also micronutrients, as well as prebiotics, probiotics and other components which can modulate the gut microbiota. As one of the main constituents of the Mediterranean Diet, EVOO has a major beneficial role attributed to its content of oleic acid and polyphenols, that might exert a significant interaction with the gut microbiota by modulating the oxidative status of the intestinal barrier, inflammation and immune response. There is growing evidence that inflammation and oxidative stress are closely related, creating a vicious circle that can aggravate metabolic disease. Findings from a recent study indicate that a MedDiet rich in high quality EVOO induces an increase of Lactic Acid Bacteria (which produce beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract) and could have a potential role in the prevention of inflammation. These findings are supported by experimental research and are in line with a new review on this topic.
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Thanks!
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