Conclusions In the context of low SFAs , high-MUFA diets in isocaloric substitution for high-CHO diets did not affect blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension .
Context Current dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk management recommend restricting intake of saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) .
However , the optimal macronutrient profile , in the context of a low-SFA diet , remains controversial .
The blood-pressure effect of replacing SFAs in diets with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) compared with carbohydrate has not been quantified to date .
Mediterranean-Style Diet Effect on the Structural Properties of the Erythrocyte Cell Membrane of Hypertensive Patients: The Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea Study
A currently ongoing r and omized trial has revealed that the Mediterranean diet , rich in virgin olive oil or nuts , reduces systolic blood pressure in high-risk cardiovascular patients . Here , we present a structural sub study to assess the effect of a Mediterranean-style diet supplemented with nuts or virgin olive oil on erythrocyte membrane properties in 36 hypertensive participants after 1 year of intervention .  Erythrocyte membrane lipid composition , structural properties of reconstituted erythrocyte membranes , and serum concentrations of inflammatory markers are reported . After the intervention , the membrane cholesterol content decreased , whereas that of phospholipids increased in all of the dietary groups ; the diminishing cholesterol : phospholipid ratio could be associated with an increase in the membrane fluidity . Moreover , reconstituted membranes from the nuts and virgin olive oil groups showed a higher propensity to form a nonlamellar inverted hexagonal phase structure that was related to an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine lipid class . These data suggest that the Mediterranean-style diet affects the lipid metabolism that is altered in hypertensive patients , influencing the structural membrane properties . The erythrocyte membrane modulation described provides insight in the structural bases underlying the beneficial effect of a Mediterranean-style diet in hypertensive subjects
Conclusions In the context of low SFAs , high-MUFA diets in isocaloric substitution for high-CHO diets did not affect blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension .
Context Current dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk management recommend restricting intake of saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) .
However , the optimal macronutrient profile , in the context of a low-SFA diet , remains controversial .
The blood-pressure effect of replacing SFAs in diets with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) compared with carbohydrate has not been quantified to date .