UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

It is well known that diet has an impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, it is unclear whether the effect of diet is solely due to its influence on underlying cardiac risk factors or to other mechanisms. This issue of Cardiology Rounds explores the complex relationship between dietary intake and overall CV risk. Initially, the association of diet and overall CV health is discussed on the scale of populations through the use of epidemiological data. Subsequently, meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials are reviewed to determine the role of dietary intervention on the prevention of CVD. Finally, to understand the pathophysio-logical factors associating diet and CV risk, several studies are examined to illustrate the effect of diet on the underlying CV risk factors. Epidemiological studies INTERHEART study In 2004, Yusuf et al published a large, case-control, cohort study spanning 52 countries and exam-ining the modifiable risk factors of acute myocardial infarction (MI).1 The study included patients admitted with a first-time MI to the coronary care unit or cardiology ward in their respective hospitals, and control patients selected from the community or from admitted in-hospital noncardiac patients