薩吉·雷諾提出他觀察到的法國高飽和脂肪攝取模式與CHD發病率之間明顯脫鉤,可使用聯合國糧食及農業組織的數據來量化表達。[4][5]在2002年,法國人平均每天消耗108克動物脂肪,而美國人平均只消耗72克。相較之下法國人吃下四倍的奶油、多吃60%的起司、和將近三倍的豬肉。雖然法國人攝取的總脂肪僅比美國人稍微多一點(171克/天 vs 157克/天),但他們攝取的飽和脂肪更多,因為美國人攝取的大部分是植物油形式的脂肪,其中主要是大豆油。[6]然而,根據英國心臟基金會(英語:British Heart Foundation)的數據,1999年,美國年齡在35-74歲男性的CHD死亡率為每100,000人中有115人,但在法國是每100,000人中只有83人。
薩吉·雷諾在1991年與當時的初級研究人員心臟學家Michel de Lorgeril和營養師Patricia Salen合作以擴展研究。這三人把之前雷諾的研究強化,他們發表的論文,結論是:以西南部地中海飲食為基礎的飲食內容;富含ω-3脂肪酸、抗氧化劑,以及包括「適量飲用」紅酒,可降低癌症、心肌梗塞、和心血管疾病的發病率;部分原因是透過增加高密度脂膽固醇(高密度脂蛋白),同時又把低密度膽固醇(低密度脂蛋白)降低。[3]
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