Lifestyle and dietary habits influence kidney function, playing an important role in the prevention and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in preserving kidney function has been seen in primary prevention. However, no scientific evidence is currently available to determine which dietary pattern is more effective in the management of CKD in secondary cardiovascular disease prevention. Thus, our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the long-term consumption of two healthy dietary patterns (a Mediterranean diet rich in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) compared to a low-fat diet rich in complex carbohydrates) in preserving kidney function in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. CHD patients (n = 1002) from the CORDIOPREV study were randomized to follow a Mediterranean diet (35% fat, 22% MUFA, 55% carbohydrates). Kidney function was assessed by the determination of serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline and after 5-years of dietary intervention. Patients were classified according to their type 2 diabetes (T2DM) status, using baseline eGFR (normal eGFR: ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m²; mildly-impaired eGFR: 60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m², severely-impaired eGFR: <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) to evaluate its influence on the progression of kidney function. Multiple linear regression analysis were performed to determine the contribution of different clinical and anthropometric parameters to changes in eGFR. Although eGFR declined after both dietary interventions compared to baseline (all p < 0.001), the Mediterranean diet produced a lower decline of eGFR compared to the low-fat diet in patients with T2DM (p = 0.040). This effect was also observed when the overall population was considered (p = 0.033). No significant differences were observed in eGFR between the two diets in non-T2DM patients. In addition, this differential effect of the Mediterranean diet was mainly observed in patients with mildly-impaired eGFR in which this diet slowed eGFR progression (p = 0.002). The long-term consumption of a Mediterranean diet rich in EVOO, when compared to a low-fat diet, may preserve kidney function, as shown by a reduced decline in eGFR in CHD patients with T2DM. Patients with mildly-impaired eGFR may benefit more from the beneficial effect of the consumption of the Mediterranean diet in preserving kidney function. These findings reinforce the clinical benefits of the Mediterranean diet in the context of secondary cardiovascular disease prevention. URL, http://www.cordioprev.es/index.php/en. Clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT00924937.

Evidence suggests that enriching a diet with plant-based proteins could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present work, we evaluated the association between the change in plant protein intake (adjusted by energy) and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with coronary heart disease from the CORDIOPREV (coronary diet intervention with olive oil and cardiovascular prevention) study. At baseline and during the follow-up, patients underwent medical examination and blood and oral glucose tolerance tests. Information on patient’s dietary intake was gathered by registered dietitians using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A total of 106 out of 436 nondiabetic patients at baseline developed type 2 diabetes mellitus after a median follow-up of 60 months. Cox regression analyses showed that patients who belonged to the group that increased plant protein intake exhibited a lower risk of developing the disease (HR = 0.64, (0.43–0.96)). Changes in plant protein intake were positively correlated with changes in carbohydrates, fibre, and legumes intake and negatively correlated with changes in saturated fatty acids intake. Results of the present study support the need of improving diet with plant-based proteins to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health burden and a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Current blood-based biomarkers lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity, particularly for early detection. In this context, circulating immune-cell transcriptomic profiling has emerged as a promising minimally invasive approach. This systematic review was conducted following a PROSPERO-registered protocol (CRD42024604757) and PRISMA 2020 guidelines to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of circulating monocyte-related transcriptomic profiles in CRC. Of 295 records identified, six studies met the inclusion criteria. The available evidence consistently supports the diagnostic value of circulating transcriptomic profiles in distinguishing patients with CRC from healthy individuals and in reflecting tumour-associated immune alterations. Monocyte-related signatures, including CXCR2⁺ monocytes, were associated with disease stage and metastatic features. Epitranscriptomic modifications, such as m6A and m5C, further reinforced their diagnostic relevance, with some studies reporting higher diagnostic accuracy than classical biomarkers. In contrast, evidence for prognostic value remains limited, heterogeneous, and often indirect, largely due to small sample sizes, methodological variability, and reliance on public datasets. Overall, circulating immune-cell transcriptomic profiles are promising non-invasive biomarkers for CRC detection and characterization, although their prognostic utility remains unclear. Methodological heterogeneity limits clinical applicability, highlighting the need for standardized, CRC-specific studies with cell-type-resolved approaches.