Association between dietary patterns and cardiovascular diseases: A review

Curr Probl Cardiol. 2024 Mar;49(3):102412. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102412. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially atherosclerosis, is the primary cause of global deaths. It accounts for millions of deaths annually. Even a small reduction in CVD through preventive treatment can have a substantial impact. Dietary patterns and substances are strongly linked to chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes. An unhealthy diet could lead to traditional risk factors such as LDL levels, TG levels, diabetes, and high blood pressure while accelerating atherosclerosis progression. Recent research has shown the potential of dietary interventions to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, particularly through healthy dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet or DASH. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new initiative aimed at enhancing the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by improving the management of CVD in primary care, including the optimization of dietary patterns. Here, this review summarizes several large cohort researches about the effects of dietary patterns on atherosclerosis, refines dietary components, and outlines some typical anti-atherosclerosis dietary agents. Finally, this review discusses recent mechanisms by which dietary interventions affect atherosclerosis progression.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Dietary patterns; Gut microbiota; Inflammation.; Lipid metabolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Atherosclerosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / prevention & control
  • Diet, Mediterranean*
  • Dietary Patterns
  • Humans
  • Hypertension*
  • Risk Factors