Study Links Inflammatory Diets to 82% Higher Cardiac Event Risk in Heart Disease Patients
Updated
Updated · mindbodygreen · Aug 10
Study Links Inflammatory Diets to 82% Higher Cardiac Event Risk in Heart Disease Patients
2 articles · Updated · mindbodygreen · Aug 10
Summary
500 adults with established coronary heart disease were followed for a median 38 months, and those eating the most pro-inflammatory diets faced sharply worse outcomes.
82% higher risk of major cardiac events and 68% higher all-cause death risk were seen in the highest inflammatory-diet group versus the lowest, according to the study in Frontiers in Nutrition.
29.6% of patients in the most inflammatory diet group had a major event, compared with 11.2% in the least inflammatory group; each 1-point rise in the Dietary Inflammatory Index was tied to a 21% higher event risk.
Researchers said chronic inflammation can destabilize arterial plaque and promote clotting, while diets heavy in ultra-processed foods, refined carbs and processed meats tend to raise inflammatory scores.
The findings add to evidence favoring Mediterranean-style eating patterns—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and olive oil—for people already managing coronary artery disease.