Beneficial effect of Mediterranean diet on disease activity and cardiovascular risk in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To analyse the influence of the Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) on SLE activity, damage accrual and cardiovascular disease risk markers.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 patients with SLE [46.9 (12.85) years]. Med Diet adherence was assessed through a 14-item questionnaire on food consumption frequency and habits (total score from 0 to 14 points; higher score is greater adherence to the Med Diet). CRP, homocysteine, SLEDAI-2K (SLE disease activity), and SLICC/ACR and SDI (damage accrual) were measured. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and blood lipids, among others, were considered cardiovascular disease risk factors.

RESULTS:

Greater adherence to the Med Diet was significantly associated with better anthropometric profiles, fewer cardiovascular disease risk factors, and lower disease activity and damage accrual scores (P ≤ 0.001 for SLEDAI and SDI). An inverse relationship between the Med Diet score and SLEDAI (P ≥ 0.001; β = -0.380), SDI (P ≤ 0.001; β = -0.740) and hsCRP (P = 0.039; β = -0.055) was observed. The odds ratio for having active SLE (SLEDAI ≥5) or the presence of damage (SDI ≥1) was lower among patients whose Med Diet score was higher (P ≤ 0.001). Finally, greater consumption of Med Diet foods (olive oil, fruits, vegetables, fish, etc.) and abstaining from red meat and meat products, sugars and pastries was associated with less SLE clinical activity and damage.

CONCLUSION:

Greater adherence to the Med Diet seems to exert a beneficial effect on disease activity and cardiovascular risk in SLE patients. To confirm these findings, further longitudinal studies would be of interest.

• Authors: Gabriela Pocovi-Gerardino, María Correa-Rodríguez, José-Luis Callejas-Rubio, Raquel Ríos-Fernández, María Martín-Amada, María-Gracia Cruz-Caparros, Blanca Rueda-Medina, Norberto Ortego-Centeno
• Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) (Rheumatology (Oxford)) Vol. 60 Issue 1 Pg. 160-169 (01 05 2021) ISSN: 1462-0332 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32594173 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Lipids

Topics

• Adult
• Ankle Brachial Index
• Cardiovascular Diseases (prevention & control)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diabetes Mellitus (diet therapy)
• Diet, Mediterranean
• Female
• Heart Disease Risk Factors
• Humans
• Hypertension (diet therapy)
• Lipids (blood)
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (blood, diet therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
• Obesity (diet therapy)
• Odds Ratio
• Patient Compliance (statistics & numerical data)