(December 8, 2008 - Insidermedicine) A traditional Mediterranean diet enhanced with mixed nuts may help stave off metabolic syndrome in those at high risk for heart disease, according to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here is some information about metabolic syndrome:

•    It refers to a combination of conditions including obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose levels.

•    It has been associated with an increased risk for heart disease.

•    While the causes are not fully understood, it is believed to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Researchers from the University of Rovira i Virgili randomly assigned over 1,200 individuals aged 55 to 80 and at high risk for cardiovascular disease to follow a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet. Among those who followed the Mediterranean diet, half were given 1 L of olive oil per week, and the other half was given 30 g of mixed nuts per day.

Initially, just over 60% of the participants had metabolic syndrome. After one year this was reduced by 14% in those on the Mediterranean plus nuts diet, 7% in those on the Mediterranean plus oil diet, and 2% among those on the low-fat diet. Although weight remained about the same in all three groups, the proportion of those with a large waist circumference, high triglycerides, or high blood pressure was much lower among those on the Mediterranean plus nuts diet.

Today’s research suggests that a Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts that does not try to restrict calories may be more heart-healthy than traditional low-fat diets.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.