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CompletedNCT01797211Updated Feb 22, 2013

Mediterranean Diet and Endothelial Function

A Phase 4 interventional study of Mediterranean diet in Cardiovascular Diseases, sponsored by University of Bari. Completed at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-02-22.

Sponsored by University of Bari · Phase 4, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To assess the effect of Mediterranean diet and some of its specific components (olive oil, non fried fish and nuts) on endothelial function in overweight and obese patients

Read the detailed description

Abdominal obesity is well known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), since it is commonly associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, systemic inflammation and endothelium dysfunction.

Abnormal endothelial function, expressed as lower vasodilatation through flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of brachial artery in response to an increase in blood flow, is considered an index of subclinical atherosclerosis, and an early hallmark of cardiovascular disease, with a strong prognostic value for future cardiovascular events. Changes in diet, level of physical activity and behavior are well known key elements influence endothelial function. Recent studies seem to show that Mediterranean diet has beneficial role on cardiovascular risk. It could protect against the development of coronary heart disease also through a possible effect on body weight and obesity.

At the best of our knowledge, the effect of Mediterranean diet on endothelial function in obese subjects has not been definitely established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Mediterranean diet on anthropometric parameters (body weight, BMI and waist circumference), lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], triglycerides (TG), fasting glucose and endothelium function, evaluated by FMD, in a group of obese and overweight subjects. In particular, subjects were invited to follow a standard Mediterranean diet for a short (3 months) or a longer (18 months) period. The specific role of some components of Mediterranean diet (olive oil or non fried fish or nuts) was also investigated.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cardiovascular Diseases

Keywords

  • Mediterranean diet; FMD; obesity; cardiovascular risk.
03

In context

Cardiovascular Diseases

4,904 studies on the registry are indexed under Cardiovascular Diseases; 919 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 60 is below the median of 100 across 2,738 interventional studies indexed under Cardiovascular Diseases.

Browse Cardiovascular Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Bari is the lead sponsor of 75 studies on the registry; 12 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

BMI: > 25.0 kg/m2 Age between 18-70 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

BMI \< 25.0 kg/m2 Age \<18 or >70 years low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF \< 50%) symptomatic cardiac disease in advanced stage or poorly controlled by medication cerebral disorders major liver and kidney diseases cancer excessive alcohol intake use of drugs addressed to lose weight.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    diet group A

    Mediterranean diet+olive oil

    Dietary Supplement: Mediterranean diet

  • Experimental
    Diet Group B

    Mediterranean diet+not-fried fish

    Dietary Supplement: Mediterranean diet

  • Experimental
    Diet Group C

    Mediterranean diet+nuts

    Dietary Supplement: Mediterranean diet

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementMediterranean diet

    Patients underwent administration of Mediterranean diet and olive oil, or Mediterranean diet and not-fried fish, or Mediterranean diet and nuts.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 3 months outcome (composite outcome)

    Anthropometric parameters (BMI, waist circumference \[WC\] and weight) a significant decrease, while FMD ones showed a significant increase after 3 months of Mediterranean diet as compared to baseline levels. The addition per se of olive oil or non fried fish or nuts to the standard Mediterranean diet did not influence anthropometric parameters, since BMI, WC and body weight of groups A, B and C were not significant different from those of the control group. After 3 months, FMD was not higher wether olive oil or non fried fish or nuts were added to standard Mediterranean diet.

    Time frame: 3 months after enrollment

Secondary outcomes

  1. 18 months follow-up evaluations (composite outcome)

    After 18 months of dietary treatment, we observed a significant increase of HDL-C, a decrease of TC and LDL-C, no differences in TG plasma concentrations and fasting glucose. The addition per se of olive oil or non fried fish or nuts to the standard Mediterranean diet did not influence the lipid profile. Anthropometric parameters showed a significant decrease and FMD showed a significant increase after 18 months, as compared to 3 months levels. Olive oil, non fried fish or nuts to the standard Mediterranean diet did not influence anthropometric parameters, since BMI, WC and body weight of groups A, B and C were not significant different from those of the control group. It is noteworthy that, after 18 months of Mediterranean diet, but not after 3 months, FMD was higher wether olive oil or non fried fish or nuts were added to standard Mediterranean diet. Lastly, at 18 months, the FMD levels of groups A, B, and C were significantly higher than those of control group.

    Time frame: 18 months after enrollment period

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Section of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari
    Bari, 70124, Italy
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Feletou M, Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor: where are we now? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 Jun;26(6):1215-25. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000217611.81085.c5. Epub 2006 Mar 16. PubMed 16543495 ↗
  • Yoshida T, Kawano H, Miyamoto S, Motoyama T, Fukushima H, Hirai N, Ogawa H. Prognostic value of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in patients with cardiovascular disease. Intern Med. 2006;45(9):575-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.45.1534. Epub 2006 Jun 1. PubMed 16755087 ↗
  • Kastorini CM, Milionis HJ, Goudevenos JA, Panagiotakos DB. Mediterranean diet and coronary heart disease: is obesity a link? - A systematic review. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Sep;20(7):536-51. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2010.04.006. PubMed 20708148 ↗
  • Babio N, Bullo M, Basora J, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Fernandez-Ballart J, Marquez-Sandoval F, Molina C, Salas-Salvado J; Nureta-PREDIMED Investigators. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Oct;19(8):563-70. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2008.10.007. Epub 2009 Jan 26. PubMed 19176282 ↗
  • Jambrik Z, Venneri L, Varga A, Rigo F, Borges A, Picano E. Peripheral vascular endothelial function testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Am Heart J. 2004 Oct;148(4):684-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2004.04.016. PubMed 15459601 ↗
  • Wildman RP, Muntner P, Reynolds K, McGinn AP, Rajpathak S, Wylie-Rosett J, Sowers MR. The obese without cardiometabolic risk factor clustering and the normal weight with cardiometabolic risk factor clustering: prevalence and correlates of 2 phenotypes among the US population (NHANES 1999-2004). Arch Intern Med. 2008 Aug 11;168(15):1617-24. doi: 10.1001/archinte.168.15.1617. PubMed 18695075 ↗
  • Hotchkiss JW, Leyland AH. The relationship between body size and mortality in the linked Scottish Health Surveys: cross-sectional surveys with follow-up. Int J Obes (Lond). 2011 Jun;35(6):838-51. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2010.207. Epub 2010 Oct 5. PubMed 20921963 ↗
  • von Ruesten A, Steffen A, Floegel A, van der A DL, Masala G, Tjonneland A, Halkjaer J, Palli D, Wareham NJ, Loos RJ, Sorensen TI, Boeing H. Trend in obesity prevalence in European adult cohort populations during follow-up since 1996 and their predictions to 2015. PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e27455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027455. Epub 2011 Nov 10. PubMed 22102897 ↗
  • Serdula MK, Mokdad AH, Williamson DF, Galuska DA, Mendlein JM, Heath GW. Prevalence of attempting weight loss and strategies for controlling weight. JAMA. 1999 Oct 13;282(14):1353-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.282.14.1353. PubMed 10527182 ↗
  • Romaguera D, Norat T, Vergnaud AC, Mouw T, May AM, Agudo A, Buckland G, Slimani N, Rinaldi S, Couto E, Clavel-Chapelon F, Boutron-Ruault MC, Cottet V, Rohrmann S, Teucher B, Bergmann M, Boeing H, Tjonneland A, Halkjaer J, Jakobsen MU, Dahm CC, Travier N, Rodriguez L, Sanchez MJ, Amiano P, Barricarte A, Huerta JM, Luan J, Wareham N, Key TJ, Spencer EA, Orfanos P, Naska A, Trichopoulou A, Palli D, Agnoli C, Mattiello A, Tumino R, Vineis P, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Buchner FL, Manjer J, Wirfalt E, Johansson I, Hellstrom V, Lund E, Braaten T, Engeset D, Odysseos A, Riboli E, Peeters PH. Mediterranean dietary patterns and prospective weight change in participants of the EPIC-PANACEA project. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Oct;92(4):912-21. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29482. Epub 2010 Sep 1. PubMed 20810975 ↗
  • Issa C, Darmon N, Salameh P, Maillot M, Batal M, Lairon D. A Mediterranean diet pattern with low consumption of liquid sweets and refined cereals is negatively associated with adiposity in adults from rural Lebanon. Int J Obes (Lond). 2011 Feb;35(2):251-8. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2010.130. Epub 2010 Jul 6. PubMed 20603626 ↗
  • de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Martin JL, Monjaud I, Delaye J, Mamelle N. Mediterranean diet, traditional risk factors, and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction: final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study. Circulation. 1999 Feb 16;99(6):779-85. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.99.6.779. PubMed 9989963 ↗
  • Robertson RM, Smaha L. Can a Mediterranean-style diet reduce heart disease? Circulation. 2001 Apr 3;103(13):1821-2. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.103.13.1821. No abstract available. PubMed 11282917 ↗
  • Perona JS, Cabello-Moruno R, Ruiz-Gutierrez V. The role of virgin olive oil components in the modulation of endothelial function. J Nutr Biochem. 2006 Jul;17(7):429-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2005.11.007. Epub 2005 Dec 12. PubMed 16481154 ↗
  • Massaro M, Basta G, Lazzerini G, Carluccio MA, Bosetti F, Solaini G, Visioli F, Paolicchi A, De Caterina R. Quenching of intracellular ROS generation as a mechanism for oleate-induced reduction of endothelial activation and early atherogenesis. Thromb Haemost. 2002 Aug;88(2):335-44. PubMed 12195709 ↗
  • Tuck KL, Hayball PJ. Major phenolic compounds in olive oil: metabolism and health effects. J Nutr Biochem. 2002 Nov;13(11):636-644. doi: 10.1016/s0955-2863(02)00229-2. PubMed 12550060 ↗
  • Levitan EB, Wolk A, Mittleman MA. Fish consumption, marine omega-3 fatty acids, and incidence of heart failure: a population-based prospective study of middle-aged and elderly men. Eur Heart J. 2009 Jun;30(12):1495-500. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehp111. Epub 2009 Apr 21. PubMed 19383731 ↗
  • Shah AP, Ichiuji AM, Han JK, Traina M, El-Bialy A, Meymandi SK, Wachsner RY. Cardiovascular and endothelial effects of fish oil supplementation in healthy volunteers. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Sep;12(3):213-9. doi: 10.1177/1074248407304749. PubMed 17875948 ↗
  • Anderson JS, Nettleton JA, Herrington DM, Johnson WC, Tsai MY, Siscovick D. Relation of omega-3 fatty acid and dietary fish intake with brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Nov;92(5):1204-13. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29494. Epub 2010 Sep 8. PubMed 20826628 ↗
  • Kelly JH Jr, Sabate J. Nuts and coronary heart disease: an epidemiological perspective. Br J Nutr. 2006 Nov;96 Suppl 2:S61-7. doi: 10.1017/bjn20061865. Erratum In: Br J Nutr. 2008 Feb;99(2):447-8. PubMed 17125535 ↗
  • Sabate J, Ang Y. Nuts and health outcomes: new epidemiologic evidence. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 May;89(5):1643S-1648S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.26736Q. Epub 2009 Mar 25. PubMed 19321572 ↗
  • Urpi-Sarda M, Casas R, Chiva-Blanch G, Romero-Mamani ES, Valderas-Martinez P, Arranz S, Andres-Lacueva C, Llorach R, Medina-Remon A, Lamuela-Raventos RM, Estruch R. Virgin olive oil and nuts as key foods of the Mediterranean diet effects on inflammatory biomakers related to atherosclerosis. Pharmacol Res. 2012 Jun;65(6):577-83. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2012.03.006. Epub 2012 Mar 18. PubMed 22449789 ↗
  • Hamdy O. Lifestyle modification and endothelial function in obese subjects. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2005 Mar;3(2):231-41. doi: 10.1586/14779072.3.2.231. PubMed 15853597 ↗
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 22, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01797211
Lead sponsor
University of Bari
Responsible party
prof. Marco Matteo Ciccone (Associate Professor, University of Bari) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 22, 2013
Start date
Jun 2010
Primary completion
Apr 2011
Completion
May 2012
Last update
Feb 22, 2013

Study contacts

Marco M Ciccone, MD
principal investigator · University of Bari
Giovanni De Pergola, MD
principal investigator · University of Bari

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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