Diet has been shown to have an impact on Sudden Heart Death. In order to decrease the risk of heart disease, experts suggest a diet that is low in salt and saturated fat. An abundant supply of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are also essential components of a heart-healthy diet. According to research, a Mediterranean diet consisting mostly of fruits, vegetables, fish, grains, and legumes, with minimal meat and dairy, may lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Dr. James M. Shikany and his team at the University of Alabama in Birmingham investigated the link between diet and sudden cardiac death. The study was funded by the NIH’s NINDS, NIA, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The results were published in the American Heart Journal on July 6, 2021.
Using a food questionnaire, the researchers assessed the diets of over 21,000 participants. A total of 110 foods were asked about in the past year. A history of coronary heart disease was included. Participants were part of the long-running REGARDS study.
The Mediterranean diet score was calculated using questionnaire responses. They found 5 dietary patterns. Diets based on the “Southern” eating pattern include lots of fried food and sugar-sweetened beverages. Other dietary patterns included an “alcohol and salad” pattern, a “convenience” pattern based on ready-to-eat foods and take-out, and a “sweets” pattern high in added sugar.
Participants’ adherence to each dietary pattern was evaluated. For example, one could follow the Mediterranean diet closely while also following the “sweets” pattern. They also kept track of heart-related events for ten years.
During the study, over 400 people died of SCD. A Southern-style diet may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death, while a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk.
The Southern dietary pattern increased the risk of sudden cardiac death by 46%. Those who closely followed the Mediterranean diet had a 26% lower risk of sudden cardiac death than those who did not. These differences were statistically insignificant (not enough to rule out chance or other factors). Those who closely followed the Mediterranean diet had a 41% lower risk of sudden cardiac death compared to those who did not.
Diet may be a modifiable risk factor for sudden cardiac death, Shikany says.
These findings support other research showing that improving diet can improve heart health.