Figure 2. The Proportion of All-Cause Mortality Reduction for High Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Attributed to Groups of Mediators.

Mediator groups were small-molecule metabolites (citrate, creatinine, homocysteine, alaline), inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1, and glycoprotein acetylation), triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) measures (triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particle size and concentrations, triglycerides), body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), insulin resistance (lipoprotein insulin resistance index score, 5-y diabetes risk factor index score), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) measures (HDL particle size and concentration, HDL cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) measures (LDL particle size and concentration, LDL cholesterol), hypertension, branched-chain amino acids, and hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c). Apolipoproteins (lipoprotein[a], apolipoprotein AI, and apolipoprotein B₁₀₀) did not contribute to mediating the association of Mediterranean diet adherence with all-cause mortality. The basic model included age, randomized treatment assignment, energy intake, smoking, alcohol intake, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone use, and physical activity.