A diet based on olive oil and salad sounds healthy – but it may achieve its impact through a specific chemical, researchers reveal today.
A laboratory study in London, UK, has shown how the combination of unsaturated fats and vegetables creates chemicals that keep the blood pressure low.
The vegetables have to be rich in nitrate chemicals and can include lettuce, spinach, celery and carrots. Unsaturated fats are found in olive oil, nuts and avocados.
Reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers say the combination of unsaturated fats and nitrate rich vegetables creates nitro fatty acids – and these in turn control an enzyme caused epoxide hydrolase which controls blood pressure.
Researcher Professor Philip Eaton, of King’s College, London, said: "The findings of our study help to explain why previous research has shown that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular problems like stroke, heart failure and heart attacks."
The British Heart Foundation, which backed the research, said there might be other reasons why the so-called Mediterranean diet helps to control blood pressure.
Dr Sanjay Thakrar, from the Foundation, said: "This interesting study goes some way to explain why a Mediterranean diet appears to be good for your heart health.
"The results showed a way in which a particular compound could combat high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease."
Rebecca L. Charles et al. Protection from hypertension in mice by the Mediterranean diet is mediated by nitro fatty acid inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase. PNAS 19 May 2014
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