May 20, 2014 07:08 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

A diet containing unsaturated fats with nitrite-rich vegetables, like olive oil and lettuce, prevents individuals from developing high blood pressure, according to a study led by the King's College London.

This finding supports previous studies that claimed adopting a Mediterranean diet helps to lower blood pressure level.

Mediterranean diet normally includes olive oil, nuts and avocados - which are rich in unsaturated fats and spinach, celery and carrots that are good sources of nitrites and nitrates. When the two food groups are combined (unsaturated fatty acids with nitrogen compounds), it leads to the formation of nitro fatty acids.

For the study, the researchers conducted experiments on mice to determine whether nitro-fatty acids led to the production of an enzyme, soluble Epoxide Hydrolase, which regulates blood pressure.

The researchers divided the mice into two groups. In the first group, the researchers genetically removed the production process of the enzyme.

When both the groups were fed unsaturated fats and nitrite-rich vegetables, the mice belonging to the first group continued to show elevated blood pressure levels. On the other hand, those belonging to the second group, nitro-fatty acids were found to lower their blood pressure.

"The findings of our study help to explain why previous research has shown that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular problems like stroke, heart failure and heart attacks," said Philip Eaton, Professor of Cardiovascular Biochemistry at King's College London, in a press release.

The finding is published in the journal PNAS.

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