“Impact of Mediterranean and DASH Diets on Cardiovascular Health in Type 1 Diabetes: Insights from a Longitudinal Study”
Eating patterns aligned with the Mediterranean or DASH diets may reduce cardiovascular disease risk in adults with Type 1 diabetes, according to findings from a six-year study led by researchers at UNLV and the University of Colorado.
READ: New York Businesses Ordered to Require Masks Indoors or Vaccine Proof
DASH
Both diets are recognized for their heart-healthy benefits, emphasizing plant-based foods, healthy fats, lean proteins, and minimal intake of processed foods and sugars.
The study involved 1,255 adults, including 563 with Type 1 diabetes and 692 without diabetes. Researchers evaluated participants’ diets using a food frequency questionnaire to assess their adherence to three diets known for managing cardiovascular health: the Mediterranean diet, the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, and the alternative healthy eating index (AHEI).
“Type 1 diabetes heightens the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes,” explained Arpita Basu, associate professor in UNLV’s School of Integrated Health Sciences. “We aimed to investigate how habitual dietary habits influence blood inflammatory markers associated with cardiovascular risk in adults with Type 1 diabetes.”
Presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual conference in Chicago, the study builds upon previous research demonstrating that these dietary patterns correlate with reduced fat accumulation around heart tissue in adults with and without Type 1 diabetes. Additionally, adherence to these diets has been linked to lower odds of coronary artery calcification in adults without diabetes.
“This study highlights the protective effects of Mediterranean and DASH diets on selected blood markers of cardiovascular disease, shedding light on their impact on inflammation in Type 1 diabetes,” Basu noted.
The analysis also examined various blood biomarkers routinely used in clinical settings to assess cardiovascular disease risk and inflammation. Participants who closely followed DASH and Mediterranean diet patterns exhibited lower levels of these biomarkers, even after adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors such as body mass index, age, caloric intake, lipid levels, blood pressure, smoking, and physical activity. Notably, adherence to the AHEI did not show significant associations with the biomarkers studied.
The study further revealed that adults with Type 1 diabetes often consume diets high in fat, primarily due to reduced carbohydrate intake and increased consumption of animal proteins high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
“There is a critical need to improve dietary quality among adults with Type 1 diabetes,” Basu emphasized. “In clinical practice, assessing dietary adherence using checklists based on the DASH and Mediterranean diets could effectively pinpoint areas for improvement. Incorporating specific foods from these diets, such as olives and nuts from the Mediterranean diet, can be beneficial even if complete dietary modification isn’t feasible.”
Basu recommends individuals interested in adopting the DASH or Mediterranean diets consult their primary care physician or a registered dietitian for personalized guidance.
