Several epidemiologic studies have underlined the beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet in relation to all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease mortality, lipid metabolism, blood pressure levels and body mass index 1. In 1995 a score assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet was elaborated 2 and this score, or variants of it, has been widely used to evaluate the relation of the Mediterranean diet to cardiovascular disease 34.

Components of the Mediterranean diet score that act as predictors of lower mortality were moderate consumption of ethanol (mostly in the form of wine during meals), low consumption of meat and meat products and high consumption of vegetables, fruits and nuts, olive oil and legumes 56.

The NHS Study found that greater adherence to a “prudent pattern”, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains, was related to a lower risk of cardiovascular and total mortality in healthy women 7. The EPICOR Study found an inverse association between increased consumption of leafy vegetables and olive oil and CHD risk in a large cohort of Italian women 8.

A diet rich in fruit and vegetables and possibly low in meat products is characterized by a high intake of antioxidants, carotenoids and vitamins (i.e. C and E) that might protect against free oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation 68.

Despite the numerous studies evaluating the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and coronary artery disease, little information is available on the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet and arrhythmias 49. The aim of the present study was to investigate gender differences in adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in patients presenting with a first episode of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Patient population. The study group included 400 patients, 205 men and 195 women of mean age 57 + 10 years presenting with first-detected AF.

Inclusion criteria were first-detected episode of AF occurring within six hours of observation. According to recent ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, first-detected AF may be either paroxysmal or persistent AF 10. If the arrhythmia terminates spontaneously, recurrent AF is designated paroxysmal; when sustained beyond 7 days, AF is designated persistent 10. Exclusion criteria were permanent AF, any condition predisposing patients to AF, such as history of myocardial infarction, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary embolism, a reduced left ventricular function, gastrointestinal tract disease, hepatic and renal disorders. We also excluded patients taking anticoagulant therapy due to dietary restriction.

The onset of AF was defined as a new and clearly recognizable onset of symptoms including palpitations, dyspnea or dizziness, or a combination of these symptoms 10. The diagnosis was confirmed by ECG. Patients were evaluated and telemetry monitoring technicians notified the investigators as soon as normal sinus rhythm was restored and electrocardiographic rhythm strips were obtained. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee, and all subjects gave written informed consent.

Cardioversion was performed according to physician’s decisions within 48 hours from the first observation of arrhythmia. Patients were subjected to saline infusion during their hospitalization while awaiting cardioversion; serum sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium levels were assessed at baseline. Anticoagulant therapy was started before cardioversion according to guideline 1011.

To evaluate gender differences in adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the effects on occurrence of AF a 1:1 case-control study was designed. Patients werecompared with 400 age- and sex-matched control subjects, healthy outpatient volunteers (mean age 54 + 10 years). Control subjects were selected by general practitioners among healthy subjects following a blinded list including only sex and age. After having been informed about the general purpose and procedure of the study each subject gave written consent. All subjects lived in the same geographic area and belonged to the same ethnic group.

Clinical characteristics of patients are shown in Table 1.

In the total population the MedD Score was higher in healthy controls compared to patients that developed AF (27.9 + 5.6 vs 22.3 + 3.1; p<0.001) and gender analysis showed that the MedD Score was higher in women compared to men (28.8 + 2.0 vs 20.1 + 2.5; p<0.001).

In the group of patients with AF the MedD Score was higher in women compared to men (24.3 + 2.0 vs 19.1 + 2.2; p<0.001). Comparing women with AF and healthy women, the MedD Score was lower in the AF group (24.3 + 2.0 vs 27.9 + 5.6; p<0.001). Similarly, men with AF had a lower adherence to the MedD Score (19.1 + 2.2 vs 21.4 + 2.5; p<0.001).

Women with AF were overweight compared to healthy women (76.4 + 5.0 vs 68 + 4.5 kg; p<0.001) and they also had a higher waist circumferences (92 + 4 vs 87 + 52; p<0.001) as shown in Table 1.

The intake of antioxidants from different categories of food was evaluated and we found that in patients with AF the estimated intake of total antioxidants was higher in women compared to men (19.9 ± 5.6 vs 11.2 ± 7.4 mmol/d; p<0.001). Healthy women had a higher estimated intake of total antioxidants compared to women that developed AF (22.3 ± 7.1 vs 19.9 ± 5.6 mmol/d; p<0.05).

The analysis of sources of antioxidants showed that women with AF had a higher intake from vegetables and fruits; on the contrary, men with AF had a higher intake from cereals and coffee. Almost all the patients drank espresso coffee and cappuccino (mainly at breakfast time). Women had a higher intake of tea compared to men. (Figure 1). Men had a higher alcohol intake compared to women . The percentage of healthy women that drink wine during meals was higher compared to women with AF (60.5% versus 40 %; p<0.001); on the contrary, the percentage of men that drink wine during meals was lower in healthy control compared to patients with AF (48 versus 53.6%; p<0.01). Intake of olive oil was higher in healthy control. Healthy women had higher intake of olive oil compared to women with AF, and this parameter was correlated with vegetables and legumes.

Table 2shows the results from a multiple linear regression model, after checking for age, sex, body

mass index. A low adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was associated with persistence of atrial fibrillation in women and in men. Women and men with Mediterranean Score in the highest quartile had a higher probability of spontaneous conversion of arrhythmia compared with women and men in the lowest quartile. Low level of antioxidant intake was also associated with an increasing risk of developing AF in women (O.R. 1.9; 95%CI 1.65-3.2; P<0.01).

The main finding of the present study is that patients that developed paroxysmal AF had a lower adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Gender analysis suggested that women had a higher adherence to the Med Diet and a higher intake of antioxidants from healthy food compared with men.

Moreover, women without AF showed a higher adherence to the Med Diet compared with women that developed AF, suggesting the protective role of a healthy diet in relation to the development of atrial arrhythmia.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice 13. The pathophysiology of AF is complex and is not completely understood, but many studies suggest oxidative stress as a mediator of AF 18. Experimental studies have found the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of AF; however, clinical trials using general antioxidants have not shown the expected therapeutic result 18. Several observational studies have suggested that people with high intakes of fruits, vegetables and olive oil, which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and flavonoids, experienced lower risk of chronic cardiovascular diseases 19. In a previous study we found that lower adherence to a healthy dietary pattern influenced the development of atrial fibrillation and spontaneous conversion of arrhythmia 4. The present paper analyzed gender differences in adherence to the Mediterranean Diet as part of a study on atrial fibrillation in patients without underlying cardiac disease 4. Women that developed atrial fibrillation had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and low intake of antioxidants compared to women without AF. Analysis of food intake showed that women with AF had low consumption of fruits and vegetables and olive oil. The beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables are mainly attributed to the antioxidant properties of various phytochemicals and vitamins in these foods. Total antioxidant capacity considers the cumulative, synergistic, and protective activities of all the antioxidants present in food 19. The synergistic effects of antioxidants and olive oil seem to be a key point. Olive oil is strongly related to the consumption of large quantities of vegetables in the form of salads and large quantities of legumes. The combination of olive oil and vegetables increase the bioavailability of antioxidants.

Similarly, the antioxidant effects of wine (especially red) combined with the dietary antioxidants of the Mediterranean diet might have a more beneficial effect on the prevalence of CHD in a Mediterranean population 162021. In Mediterranean countries alcoholic beverages, mainly wine, are consumed with food in 80% of cases 1620. Previous studies showed that wine drinkers in Mediterranean countries had a healthier diet than beer drinkers, with a higher intake of fruit, vegetables and fiber. The beneficial effects could be related to specific protective chemical polyphenols found in red wine 2122. In the present population intake of antioxidants from wine is higher in men compared to women, although women more often consume their wine with food.

Healthy control women had a higher intake of wine during meals and a lower intake of alcohol beverages other than wine. The relationship between alcohol intake, specifically wine intake, and synergistic effects with food is complex and needs to be confirmed by a large clinical trial.

Women that developed atrial fibrillation were overweight. It is well known that AF is strongly related with obesity and reduced physical activity. 232425.

Moderate physical activity has been shown to have several physiological benefits that could reduce the incidence of AF in older adults. Physical activity induces and maintains weight loss, lowers resting heart rate and blood pressure, improves glucose control, and improves serum lipoprotein levels and mental well-being. Physical activity may also improve endothelial function and lower systemic inflammation. Each of these is a risk factor for AF 2324

The Mediterranean Diet was associated with a healthy lifestyle, less smoking and a high level of physical activity. As previously reported, we found that sedentary patients were more likely to develop atrial fibrillation 18. Our results support the hypothesis that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is more frequent in subjects that tend to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

Women that developed AF had a low adherence to the Mediterranean Diet compared with the healthy control group. Women with low adherence to the Mediterranean Diet also had a less healthy lifestyle that could favor arrhythmia developing. Intake of antioxidants derived from vegetables and fruit and wine during meals was greater in the healthy women. These observations suggest that a healthy lifestyle and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet could prevent episodes of AF in women without underlying cardiac disease.