Retraction and Republication: Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED)

Researchers studied 7,447 adults aged 55 to 80 who had a high risk of heart disease. They assigned people by chance to follow a Mediterranean diet with extra-virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet with nuts, or a low-fat diet. After about five years, the Mediterranean diet groups had roughly 30% fewer heart attacks, strokes, or related deaths. A later check of the data found broadly similar results, despite problems with how some people were originally assigned.

What this means for you: This supports eating more vegetables, fruit, beans, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil, while limiting highly processed foods. The participants already had a high risk of heart disease, so the benefit for healthier people may be smaller.