TNF and atherosclerosis: After 3 years of intervention, both MD groups showed significant anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by the diminution of plasma cytokine and chemokine concentrations (MCP-1, MIP-1β, RANTES, ENA78, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and hs-CRP) related to atherosclerosis, together with improvement in classical cardiovascular risk factors (body weight, blood pressure, plasma cholesterol concentration or lipid profile).