Effect of an Atlantic Diet on Anthropometric Indices and Serum Lipid Profile

BACKGROUND: The Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEAD) is the traditional diet of Northern Portugal and Galicia, a region in northwest Spain. The SEAD has been associated with a lower risk of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction. Possible mechanisms of this association may be related with a lower concentration of markers of inflammation and with reduced triglycerides, insulin, insulin resistance, and systolic blood pressure. Aim: To evaluate the effect of an Atlantic Diet on i) lipid profile, ii) markers of inflammation, and iii) anthropometric indices in a population-based study METHODS: This is a non-pharmacological clinical trial study which is performed on a family-oriented basis. 250 families (~ 750 children and adults, older than 3 years) were selected to participate in the study and randomized into Atlantic Diet (AD) (n=125 families) and control (n=125 families) groups. The AD groups participate in a diet program 1 day a month for 3 months in 120-minute diet sessions and freely receive AD food, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, cheese, olive oil, mussels and by wine consumption during meals. Control group subjects do not participate in any regular diet activity during this period and did not receive additional food. Exclusion criteria are alcoholism, lipid treatment, dementia, and terminal disease. Weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), skin folds, nutrient intake from 3-day recalls, food frequency questionnaire, physical activity, blood pressure, metabolic function (fasting blood glucose, HBA1c, insulin resistance and lipid profile), and inflammation markers (c-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) are measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Mixed effect models will be performed to assess the significance of changes in the cardiometabolic parameters. The primary end point is the change in lipid profile compared with baseline and the control group arm at the end of Month 6. The secondary exploratory end points were change in anthropometric indices and inflammation markers at Month 6.