Effects of Mediterranean Diet and Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Oxidative Stress and EPC's
Inclusion Criteria:
- Body mass index [BMI; body weight (kg)/height (m)2] greater than or equal to 28 and
less than 35
- Stable body weight in the past 6 months (weight change < 2 kg)
- Non-smokers
- Currently consuming a stable habitual diet as assessed by interview with a
nutritionist and 24 hour diet recall showing:
- saturated + trans fat intake of > 10% of total daily calories; and
- total cholesterol intake of > 300 mg/day
- Not consuming antioxidants or vitamin-mineral preparations in the last 4 weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of significant cardiovascular disease
- Cancer other than remote history of skin cancer
- Diabetes mellitus by history or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > 126mg/dL
- Excessive chronic alcohol consumption (averaging > two alcoholic beverages/day)
- Known acute or chronic illness, including psychiatric problems that will, in the
opinion of the principal investigator (PI), make one ineligible for the study
- Statin or other hypolipidemic therapy
- Current intake of vitamins and supplements
- Inability to return to Emory for follow-up, blood drawing
- Pregnant or lactating females
- Unable to give informed consent
- Hematocrit < 30%
- Uncontrolled hypertension with systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 180 and diastolic
blood pressure (DBP) > 110
- History of bleeding disorder