The Mediterranean diet decreases prothrombotic microvesicle release in asymptomatic individuals at high cardiovascular risk.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Circulating microvesicles (cMV) are small phospholipid-rich vesicles that contribute to the atherothrombotic process, and are biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and progression. Diet is a cornerstone for CVD prevention, but dietary effects on cMV shedding are poorly characterized. We aimed at assessing the long term effects of a Mediterranean diet compared to a low-fat diet (LFD) on MV shedding by cells of the blood and vascular compartments in patients at high cardiovascular risk treated as per guidelines.

METHODS

A total of 155 participants from the PREDIMED trial free of cardiovascular events after a mean follow-up of 5 years (n = 53 from the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil -EVOO-; n = 49 from the Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts -Nuts-; and n = 53 from the LFD) were included in the study. At baseline and after one-year intervention, cMV were quantified and characterized by flow cytometry to identify their activated parental cell origin and prothrombotic potential by Annexin V (AV) binding.

RESULTS

After one year of dietary intervention, platelet-derived PAC-1/AV and CD62P/AV cMV concentrations were lower in the Nuts group compared with the LFD and EVOO interventions (P = 0.036 and 0.003, respectively). In addition, prothrombotic cMV carrying tissue factor (CD142/AV) and CD11a/AV cMV derived from activated cells, were significantly lower in both Mediterranean diet (EVOO and Nuts) interventions compared to one year of LFD (P < 0.0001 and 0.028, respectively). SMAα/AV cMV were lower in the LFD compared to the Nuts group after one year of intervention (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

cMV are markers of cell activation and vascular injury that appear to be sensitive to dietary changes. Following a Mediterranean diet rich in EVOO or nuts is associated with lower cell activation towards a pro-atherothrombotic phenotype, suggesting a delay in the development of CV complications.