Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study

Abstract The Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) is widely recognized for its protective effect in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), less is known about the associations between health and adherence to the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS). This study investigates the relationship between adherence to the Med...

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Main Authors: Noushin Mohammadifard, Mehran Rahimlou, Reza Amani-Beni, Bahar Darouei, Ehsan Zarepur, Fahimeh Haghighatdoost, Sharareh Nazemzadeh-Harandi, Nahid Azdaki, Nahid Salehi, Masoud Lotfizadeh, Samad Ghaffari, Arsalan Salari, Mostafa Dehghani, Ahmadreza Assareh, Nizal Sarrafzadegan
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95719-y
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author Noushin Mohammadifard
Mehran Rahimlou
Reza Amani-Beni
Bahar Darouei
Ehsan Zarepur
Fahimeh Haghighatdoost
Sharareh Nazemzadeh-Harandi
Nahid Azdaki
Nahid Salehi
Masoud Lotfizadeh
Samad Ghaffari
Arsalan Salari
Mostafa Dehghani
Ahmadreza Assareh
Nizal Sarrafzadegan
author_facet Noushin Mohammadifard
Mehran Rahimlou
Reza Amani-Beni
Bahar Darouei
Ehsan Zarepur
Fahimeh Haghighatdoost
Sharareh Nazemzadeh-Harandi
Nahid Azdaki
Nahid Salehi
Masoud Lotfizadeh
Samad Ghaffari
Arsalan Salari
Mostafa Dehghani
Ahmadreza Assareh
Nizal Sarrafzadegan
author_sort Noushin Mohammadifard
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) is widely recognized for its protective effect in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), less is known about the associations between health and adherence to the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS). This study investigates the relationship between adherence to the Med-Diet and PDQS with the risk of premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) in an Iranian population. A total of 3287 participants were included in this multicenter case-control study across various ethnic groups in Iran, categorized into PCAD cases (n = 2106) and controls (n = 1181). PCAD cases were defined as individuals with at least one coronary artery exhibiting ≥ 75% stenosis or a left main coronary artery with ≥ 50% stenosis, while controls had normal coronary arteries. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), previously validated for accuracy in the Iranian population Adherence to the Med-Diet was assessed using a standardized scoring system, awarding one point for higher consumption of beneficial food groups (such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts, and a high monounsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio) and one point for lower consumption of less favorable foods (such as red and processed meats). The total score ranged from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the Med-Diet. The PDQS, a dietary quality index, evaluated adherence across 14 healthy and 7 unhealthy food groups, with higher scores reflecting better diet quality. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between dietary scores and PCAD risk. Participants with higher adherence to both the Med-Diet and PDQS had significantly lower odds of PCAD (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.40; P for trend < 0.001 for PDQS), with a stronger association observed for the Med-Diet (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.10; P for trend < 0.001). Additionally, higher adherence to the Med-Diet (OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.03, 0.05) and PDQS (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.26) was inversely associated with PCAD severity in the fully adjusted model. This study showed a protective association of the Med-Diet and PDQS with reduced risk of PCAD in the Iranian population.
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spelling doaj-art-d8e1b1f39b97477b84d6d0a54b87ded22025-08-20T01:53:00ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-95719-yMediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control studyNoushin Mohammadifard0Mehran Rahimlou1Reza Amani-Beni2Bahar Darouei3Ehsan Zarepur4Fahimeh Haghighatdoost5Sharareh Nazemzadeh-Harandi6Nahid Azdaki7Nahid Salehi8Masoud Lotfizadeh9Samad Ghaffari10Arsalan Salari11Mostafa Dehghani12Ahmadreza Assareh13Nizal Sarrafzadegan14Interventional Cardiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical SciencesHeart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesHeart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesCardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical SciencesCardiovascular Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical SciencesCardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical sciencesDepartment of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Heshmat Hospital, Guilan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Rahimi Hospital, Lorestan University of Medical SciencesAtherosclerosis Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical SciencesIsfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesAbstract The Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) is widely recognized for its protective effect in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), less is known about the associations between health and adherence to the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS). This study investigates the relationship between adherence to the Med-Diet and PDQS with the risk of premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) in an Iranian population. A total of 3287 participants were included in this multicenter case-control study across various ethnic groups in Iran, categorized into PCAD cases (n = 2106) and controls (n = 1181). PCAD cases were defined as individuals with at least one coronary artery exhibiting ≥ 75% stenosis or a left main coronary artery with ≥ 50% stenosis, while controls had normal coronary arteries. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), previously validated for accuracy in the Iranian population Adherence to the Med-Diet was assessed using a standardized scoring system, awarding one point for higher consumption of beneficial food groups (such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts, and a high monounsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio) and one point for lower consumption of less favorable foods (such as red and processed meats). The total score ranged from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the Med-Diet. The PDQS, a dietary quality index, evaluated adherence across 14 healthy and 7 unhealthy food groups, with higher scores reflecting better diet quality. Logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between dietary scores and PCAD risk. Participants with higher adherence to both the Med-Diet and PDQS had significantly lower odds of PCAD (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.40; P for trend < 0.001 for PDQS), with a stronger association observed for the Med-Diet (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.10; P for trend < 0.001). Additionally, higher adherence to the Med-Diet (OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.03, 0.05) and PDQS (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.26) was inversely associated with PCAD severity in the fully adjusted model. This study showed a protective association of the Med-Diet and PDQS with reduced risk of PCAD in the Iranian population.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95719-yCoronary artery diseaseMediterranean dietPrime diet quality scoreCardiovascular diseaseCoronary disease
spellingShingle Noushin Mohammadifard
Mehran Rahimlou
Reza Amani-Beni
Bahar Darouei
Ehsan Zarepur
Fahimeh Haghighatdoost
Sharareh Nazemzadeh-Harandi
Nahid Azdaki
Nahid Salehi
Masoud Lotfizadeh
Samad Ghaffari
Arsalan Salari
Mostafa Dehghani
Ahmadreza Assareh
Nizal Sarrafzadegan
Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study
Scientific Reports
Coronary artery disease
Mediterranean diet
Prime diet quality score
Cardiovascular disease
Coronary disease
title Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study
title_full Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study
title_fullStr Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study
title_short Mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: a multi-centric case-control study
title_sort mediterranean diet and prime diet quality score are associated with reduced risk of premature coronary artery disease in iran a multi centric case control study
topic Coronary artery disease
Mediterranean diet
Prime diet quality score
Cardiovascular disease
Coronary disease
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95719-y
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