Atherosclerosis is a chronic and slowly growing pathological lesion that remains asymptomatic until a clinical event occurs. In the pre-clinical stage atherosclerosis may be difficult to diagnose. As disease surrogate, a large number of risk factors for atherosclerosis are being recognized. Some of them are responsible for the epidemiologically very serious metabolic syndrome, which accounts for development of hyperlipidemia (from preventive point of view only 25% of population has normal blood lipid levels), obesity, diabetes or arterial hypertension. In all of these conditions, oxidative stress represents a substantial pathogenic factor through deleterious chemical reactions that damage biomolecules, including formation of atherogenic- oxidatively-modified LDL particles (1) or direct destruction of cells and tissues by free radicals (2-4). Lifestyle, in particular dietary schemes, belongs to important factors contributing to the formation and development of atherosclerosis. The usefulness of dietary components in contributing to low cardiovascular mortality in populations of the mediterranean basin is well recognized. After pioneering studies by Ancel Keys (5), Mediterranean diet has become popular worldwide as health diet. Several components of this diet have been advocated in contributing to counteract atherosclerosis, including a panel of antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids. Health providers in continental diet-based countries suggest to embracing Mediterranean diet in order to contribute in reducing cardiovascular mortality. However, countries in the Mediterranean area are experiencing a shift in dietary habit towards continental diet with potential harmful change in mortality rates. Recently, Trichopoulou et al. (6) reported on adherence to mediterranean diet and survival in a Greek population. These authors found that adherence to this diet is associated with a significant reduction in mortality.