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Impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2019) | Viewed by 32399

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Theodora Psaltopoulou

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Guest Editor

Univ Athens, Sch Med, Dept Hyg Epidemiol & Med Stat, 75 M Asias Str, GR-11527 Athens, Greece
Interests: Mediterranean diet; nutrition; epidemiology; preventive medicine; meta-analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy dietary pattern, characterized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The principal features of a Mediterranean diet include high consumption of unrefined cereals, fruits, and vegetables, olive oil, legumes, moderate to high consumption of fish, wine, dairy products, and low consumption of meat. The Mediterranean diet involves a set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols, and traditions, as well as the sharing and consumption of food.

A variety of beneficial actions have been attributed to adherence to a Mediterranean diet, among them a better overall survival rate, as well as the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, depression, and dementia, among numerous others. This Special Issue welcomes original studies as well as review articles examining the pluripotent impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health. Human and animal studies, epidemiological, clinical and preclinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are welcome in this effort.

Dr. Theodora Psaltopoulou
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Mediterranean diet
Health
Prevention
Nutrition
Lifestyle habits
Survival

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediterranean Diet is Associated with an Improved Quality of Life in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

by Minerva Granado-Casas, Mariona Martin, Montserrat Martínez-Alonso, Nuria Alcubierre, Marta Hernández, Núria Alonso, Esmeralda Castelblanco and Didac Mauricio

Nutrients 2020, 12(1), 131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12010131 - 02 Jan 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6454

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the potential association between dietary patterns (i.e., the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and healthy eating) and patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction (TS) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A food frequency questionnaire, the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19), and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire-status version (DTSQ-s) were administered via personal interviews to 258 participants with T1D. Multivariable analysis showed that a moderate or high adherence to the MedDiet was associated with greater diabetes-specific QoL (β = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.03; 0.61; p = 0.029). None of the dietary quality indexes (i.e., the alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED) and the alternate Healthy Eating Index (aHEI)) were associated with the overall TS. However, the aHEI was positively associated with the specific items of TS “convenience” and “flexibility” (β = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.00; 0.06; p = 0.042 and β = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.01; 0.06; p = 0.011, respectively). On the other hand, the aHEI was negatively associated with the dimension “recommend to others” (β = −0.5, 95% CI = −0.99; −0.02; p = 0.042). In conclusion, a moderate and high adherence to the MedDiet was associated with greater QoL. Although neither aMED nor aHEI were associated with the overall TS, some specific items were positively (i.e., “convenience”, “flexibility”) or negatively (“recommend to others”) related to the aHEI. Further research is needed to assess how to improve medical nutrition therapy and its impact on patient-reported outcomes in people with T1D. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health)

15 pages, 841 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Somatotropic Axis and Obesity: Is There Any Role for the Mediterranean Diet?

by Giovanna Muscogiuri, Luigi Barrea, Daniela Laudisio, Carolina Di Somma, Gabriella Pugliese, Ciro Salzano, Annamaria Colao and Silvia Savastano

Nutrients 2019, 11(9), 2228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu11092228 - 16 Sep 2019

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4212

Abstract

Obesity is associated with reduced spontaneous and stimulated growth hormone (GH) secretion and basal insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) levels—which in turn is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate: (1) the association of somatotropic axis with cardiometabolic status; (2) the association of somatotropic axis with the Mediterranean diet and nutritional pattern in people with obesity. Cross-sectional observational study was carried out in 200 adult women, aged 36.98 ± 11.10 years with severe obesity (body mass index—BMI of 45.19 ± 6.30 kg/m²). The adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the total calorie intake was assessed. Anthropometric measurements, body composition and biochemical profile were determined along with Growth Hormone (GH)/Insulin like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) axis and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance—HoMA-IR). The enrolled subjects were compared after being divided according to GH peak response and according to IGF-1 standard deviation scores (SDS). Derangements of GH peak were detected in 61.5% of studied patients while IGF-1 deficiency was detected in 71% of the population. Both blunted GH peak response and IGF-1 SDS were indicators of derangements of somatotropic axis and were associated with comparable results in terms of cardiometabolic sequelae. Both GH peak and IGF-1 levels were inversely associated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet predicts GH peak response. Fatty liver index (FLI), fat mass (FM) and phase angle (PhA) were predictive factors of GH peak response as well. In conclusion derangements of somatotropic axis is associated with a worse cardiometabolic profile in people with obesity. A high adherence to the Mediterranean diet—and in particular protein intake—was associated with a better GH status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health)

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14 pages, 444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediterranean Diet, Physical Fitness and Body Composition in Sevillian Adolescents: A Healthy Lifestyle

by Pablo Galan-Lopez, Antonio J. Sánchez-Oliver, Francis Ries and José Antonio González-Jurado

Nutrients 2019, 11(9), 2009; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu11092009 - 26 Aug 2019

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6744

Abstract

Childhood and adolescent obesity has become one of the most vital challenges to overcome in the present age. Physical fitness, physical activity and the Mediterranean diet (MD) are valuable tools for its prevention and treatment. The main objective of this study is to analyze the associations between health-related physical fitness components, body composition and adherence to the MD in 917 adolescents aged from 13- to 16-years-old. The ALPHA-Fitness Test was used to measure physical fitness and body composition, and the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (KIDMED) questionnaire was employed to assess the adherence to the MD. The associations between variables were tested according to gender and age a generalized linear model (GLM) univariate analysis (two factors) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA, with Bonferroni posthoc). As to the body composition and physical fitness variables, significant differences were obtained in both genders but not in relation to the adherence to the MD. The boys performed better in the physical fitness tests. Age was a determinant factor in adherence to the MD in the total sample, lowering as the age of the sample increases. Both the boys and girls who had a significantly higher performance in the endurance test were those who showed high/medium adherence to the MD. It is concluded that higher levels of cardiovascular endurance in boys and girls are associated with a medium and high adherence to the MD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health)

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15 pages, 793 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Following Mediterranean Diet Recommendations in the Real World in the Incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Adverse Maternal-Foetal Outcomes: A Prospective, Universal, Interventional Study with a Single Group. The St Carlos Study

by Nuria García de la Torre, Carla Assaf-Balut, Inés Jiménez Varas, Laura del Valle, Alejandra Durán, Manuel Fuentes, Náyade del Prado, Elena Bordiú, Johanna Josefina Valerio, Miguel A. Herraiz, Nuria Izquierdo, Maria José Torrejón, Maria Angeles Cuadrado, Paz de Miguel, Cristina Familiar, Isabelle Runkle, Ana Barabash, Miguel A. Rubio and Alfonso L. Calle-Pascual

Nutrients 2019, 11(6), 1210; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu11061210 - 28 May 2019

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 7880

Abstract

We reported that a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) and pistachios, reduces GDM incidence and several other adverse outcomes. In order to assess its translational effects in the real world we evaluated the effect of MedDiet from 1st gestational visit in GDM rate compared with control (CG) and intervention (IG) groups from the previously referred trial. As secondary objective we also compared adverse perinatal outcomes between normoglycemic and diabetic women. This trial is a prospective, clinic-based, interventional study with a single group. 1066 eligible normoglycaemic women before 12 gestational weeks were assessed. 932 women (32.4 ± 5.2 years old, pre-gestational BMI 22.5 ± 3.5 kg/m²) received a motivational lifestyle interview with emphasis on daily consumption of EVOO and nuts, were followed-up and analysed. Binary regression analyses were used to examine the risk for each pregnancy outcome, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational weight gain (GWG), caesarean-section, perineal trauma, preterm delivery, small (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admissions. GDM was diagnosed in 13.9%. This rate was significantly lower than the CG: RR 0.81 (0.73–0.93), p < 0.001 and no different from the IG: RR 0.96 (0.85–1.07), p = 0.468. GWG was lower in diabetic women (10.88 ± 6.46 vs. 12.30 ± 5.42 Kg; p = 0.013). Excessive weight gain (EWG) was also lower in GDM [RR 0.91 (0.86–0.96); p < 0.001] without a significant increase of insufficient weight gain. LGA were also lower (1 (0.8%) vs. 31 (3.9%); p < 0.05)), and SGA were similar (5 (3.8%) vs. 30 (3.7%)). LGA were associated to EWG (RR 1.61 (1.35–1.91), p < 0.001). Differences in other maternal-foetal outcomes were not found. In conclusions an early MedDiet nutritional intervention reduces GDM incidence and maternal-foetal adverse outcomes and should be universally applied as 1st line therapy. GDM might not be consider as a high risk pregnancy any longer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health)

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Review

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24 pages, 1613 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Mediterranean Diet, a Rich Source of Angiopreventive Compounds in Cancer

by Beatriz Martínez-Poveda, José Antonio Torres-Vargas, María del Carmen Ocaña, Melissa García-Caballero, Miguel Ángel Medina and Ana R. Quesada

Nutrients 2019, 11(9), 2036; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu11092036 - 31 Aug 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6610

Abstract

Diet-based chemoprevention of cancer has emerged as an interesting approach to evade the disease or even target its early phases, reducing its incidence or slowing down tumor progression. In its basis in the essential role of angiogenesis for tumor growth and metastasis, angioprevention proposes the use of inhibitors of angiogenesis in cancer prevention. The anti-angiogenic potential exhibited by many natural compounds contained in many Mediterranean diet constituents makes this dietary pattern especially interesting as a source of chemopreventive agents, defined within the angioprevention strategy. In this review, we focus on natural bioactive compounds derived from the main foods included in the Mediterranean diet that display anti-angiogenic activity, as well as their possible use as angiopreventive agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health)

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