135 Virgin Olive Oil Benefits iterranean diet supplemented with EVOO or with a mixture of walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds reduced by 30% the risk of major cardiovascular events, that is, myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death (Figure 10.2). This protective effect is similar to that obtained with medication such as statins, but without their secondary effects and the financial burden for public health systems. Recent data from the PREDIMED study confirmed the EVOO protective effect on cardiovascular disease, with 39% and 48% reductions in the risk of developing cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, in participants with a high (upper tertile) EVOO consumption compared to those in the low tertile. Figure 10.2. Cardiovascular complications in the three PREDIMED intervention groups. Observe how lines separate from the beginning, and among groups differences increase with time, the maximum at the 5th year of follow-up where less disease incidence is observed in the two Mediterranean diet groups. EVOO: extra virgin olive oil Source: Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvadó J, Covas MI, Corella D, Arós F, Gómez-Gracia E, RuizGutiérrez V, Fiol M, Lapetra J, Lamuela-Raventos RM, Serra-Majem L, Pintó X, Basora J, Muñoz MA, Sorlí JV, Martínez JA, Fitó M, Gea A, Hernán MA, Martínez-González MA; PREDIMED Study Investigators. Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts. N Engl J Med 2018;378(25):e34 (1-14) Control group Mediterranean diet +nuts Mediterranean diet +EVOO CUMULATIVE INCIDENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS PARTICIPANTS AT HIGH VASCULAR RISK YEARS Control group 2450 2268 2020 1583 1268 946 Mediterranean diet + EVOO 2543 2486 2320 1987 1687 1310 Mediterranean diet + nuts 2454 2343 2093 1657 1389 1031 0.06 O.OS 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.00 o 1 2 3 4 5
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