The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of olive oil, fruit, nuts, vegetables and cereals; a moderate intake of fish and poultry; a low intake of dairy products, red meat, processed meats and sweets; and wine in moderation, consumed with meals. A randomized trial was conducted to determine if adherence to this diet pattern would reduce cardiovascular events. Participants were men (55 to 80 years) and women (60 to 80 years) who had no cardiovascular disease at enrollment, but who had either type 2 diabetes or at least three of the following risk factors: smoking, hypertension, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, overweight or obesity or a family history of premature coronary heart disease. The researchers randomly divided participants into one of three groups: a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts or a control diet. They found that an energy-unrestricted Mediterranean diet supplemented with either extra-virgin olive oil or nuts resulted in fewer cardiovascular events compared to the control group, resulting in a relative risk reduction of about 30 percent, among high-risk people who were initially free of cardiovascular disease. The results support the contention that the Mediterranean diet may be beneficial for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.