British Medical JournalComparison of Seven Popular Structured Dietary Programmes and Risk of Mortality and Major Cardiovascular Events in Patients at Increased Cardiovascular Risk: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

In this meta analysis of 40 eligible trials involving 35,548 participants and seven diet programs, only the Mediterranean and low-fat diet showed effectiveness in in lowering all cause and CV mortality. Notably, their preventive value increased with increasing CV risk.

Diets (with number of studies) included in the meta-analysis:

• Low fat (18)
• Mediterranean (12)
• Very low fat (6)
• Modified fat (4)
• Combined low fat and low sodium (3)
• Ornish (3)
• Pritikin (1)