Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on Cardiovascular Risk Profile in Men and Women

Inclusion Criteria: * Men and premenopausal women from de Quebec City metropolitan area. * Slightly elevated LDL-cholesterol concentrations (3.4-4.9 mM) or total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio ≥ 5.0 * At least one of the four following factors of the metabolic syndrome: 1) waist circumference \> 94 cm in men and \> 80 cm in women; 2) TG \> 1.7 mmol/L; 3) fasting glycemia between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/L and 4) blood pressure concentrations ≥ 130 / 85 mm Hg. * Age: between 25 to 50 years * Stable body weight (+/- 2.5 kg) for at least 3 months before the beginning of the study * In women, a regular menstrual cycle for the last 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects with endocrine disorders, cardiovascular events, type 1 or 2 diabetes and those using medication that could affect dependent variables measured (namely lipid-lowering, hypoglycemic, insulin sensitizers and anti hypertensive medication) * Smokers * Subjects with history of alcoholism * Subjects with food allergies or food aversion that could impede compliance to the Mediterranean diet * Pregnant women and those using systemic hormonal contraceptives