A 'Western' diet consisting of a high intake of eggs, meat, fried foods, and salty snacks increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, worldwide. It also accounts for approximately 30% of the population-attributable risk for AMI, according to a study published online in the journal Circulation.

In this study, researchers from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada and their colleagues studied the dietary patterns of 5,761 AMI patients and 10,646 control subjects from around the world. They identified three dietary patterns - Western, prudent (high in fruits and vegetables), and Oriental (high in tofu and soy) - and interviewed all of the study participants regarding their eating habits. The researchers found that those who ate a Western diet had a 35% greater risk of heart attack compared with those who ate little meat or fried foods. Those who followed an Oriental diet showed no relationship with AMI risk.

Not surprisingly, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables appears to protect against AMI. These results are consistent with findings from prior studies. The authors of the study hope that their findings will encourage policy makers to think of creative ways to make good foods more accessible and affordable, substantially changing what people eat. They also encourage cardiologists and others who treat at-risk patients to consider nutrition and dietary advice as an important component of preventative care.