Mediterranean diet and the Spanish paradox. A hypothesis

The Spanish paradox is a phenomenon observed in Spain and some other Mediterranean countries by which the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality levels are dissociated from their cardiovascular risk factors. The Mediterranean diet has been proposed as the main reason for this dissociation, but dietary changes themselves are not enough to explain this situation. It has been recently discovered that Stearoil-CoA desaturase (SCD) is involved in the dissociation between a favourable atherogenic metabolic profile and the risk for arteriosclerosis. We propose a hypothesis that attempts to clarify the Spanish paradox. This hypothesis contemplates the essential role of dietary olive oil and its interaction with different SCD genetic patterns. Confirmation of this hypothesis could provide the basis for the design of clinical and preventive strategies against cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as certain metabolic risk factors.