Mediterranean diet and white blood cell count-a randomized controlled trial

Identifier:  imarina:9218786

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9218786

Authors:  Hernaez, Alvaro; Lassale, Camille; Castro-Barquero, Sara; Babio, Nancy; Ros, Emilio; Castaner, Olga; Tresserra-Rimbau, Anna; Pinto, Xavier; Martinez-Gonzalez, Miguel Angel; Corella, Dolores; Salas-Salvado, Jordi; Alonso-Gomez, Angel M; Lapetra, Jose; Fiol, Miquel; Gomez-Gracia, Enrique; Serra-Majem, Lluis; Sacanella, Emilio; Garcia-Arellano, Ana; Sorli, Jose V; Diaz-Lopez, Andres; Cofan, Montserrat; Estruch, Ramon

Abstract:
We aimed to assess the effects of the antioxidant-rich Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on white blood cell count. Our study population included participants in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea study (average age 67 years old, 58% women, high cardiovascular risk). We assessed whether a MedDiet intervention enriched in extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, versus a low-fat control diet, modified the incidence of leukocytosis (>11 × 109 leukocytes/L), mild leukopenia (<4.5 × 109 leukocytes/L), or severe leukopenia (<3.5 × 109 leukocytes/L) in individuals without the condition at baseline (n = 3190, n = 2925, and n = 3190, respectively). We also examined whether MedDiet modified the association between leukocyte count alterations and all-cause mortality. Both MedDiet interventions were associated with a lower risk of developing leukopenia (incidence rates: 5.06% in control diet, 3.29% in MedDiet groups combined; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.54 [0.36-0.80]) and severe leukopenia (incidence rates: 1.26% in control diet, 0.46% in MedDiet groups combined; hazard ratio: 0.25 [0.10-0.60]). High cumulative adherence to a MedDiet was linked to lower risk of leukocytosis (incidence rates: 2.08% in quartile 1, 0.65% in quartile 4; HRQ4-Q1: 0.29 [0.085-0.99]) and attenuated the association between leukopenia and all-cause mortality (Pinteraction = 0.032). In brief, MedDiet decreased the incidence of white blood cell count-related alterations in high cardiovascular risk individuals.