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Antonia Trichopoulou - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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definitions and potential health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet views from experts around the world
BMC Medicine, 2014Co-Authors: Antonia Trichopoulou, Miguel A Martinezgonzalez, Tammy Y N Tong, Nita G Forouhi, Shweta Khandelwal, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Dariush Mozaffarian, Michel De LorgerilAbstract:The Mediterranean Diet has been linked to a number of health benefits, including reduced mortality risk and lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Definitions of the Mediterranean Diet vary across some settings, and scores are increasingly being employed to define Mediterranean Diet adherence in epidemiological studies. Some components of the Mediterranean Diet overlap with other healthy Dietary patterns, whereas other aspects are unique to the Mediterranean Diet. In this forum article, we asked clinicians and researchers with an interest in the effect of Diet on health to describe what constitutes a Mediterranean Diet in different geographical settings, and how we can study the health benefits of this Dietary pattern.
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Back to the future: the Mediterranean Diet paradigm.
Nutrition metabolism and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, 2013Co-Authors: A. Naska, Antonia TrichopoulouAbstract:The Mediterranean Diet was introduced to the scientific community by the classic Seven Countries study. Since then data on the association between this Diet and cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases have been accumulating. The Mediterranean Diet is characterized by a high intake of olive oil, plant products, fish and seafood; a low intake of dairies, meat and meat products; and a moderate ethanol intake. The Mediterranean Diet has been operationalized through various computational scores (e.g. the Mediterranean Diet score for adults and the KIDMED index for children) which are all based on the Dietary components that capture its essence. Next to evidence generated through both observational studies and intervention trials on the inverse association between Mediterranean Diet and several risk factors, inflammatory markers and mortality or incidence of disease, there is increasing evidence that Mediterranean populations are abandoning their traditional eating habits. Publications presenting changes over time in the Diet of populations participating in the Seven Countries Study point towards an increase in the intake of processed foods and saturated fat and a decrease in the intake of plant foods and monounsaturated fatty acids. Findings are alarming, particularly in relation to younger generations. Studies among children and adolescents in the Mediterranean region clearly indicate that the largest proportions of these populations poorly adhere to their traditional Diet. Mediterraneans have clearly not been the major benefactors in the research on the effects of the Mediterranean lifestyle and younger populations in the regions are already following the wrong path.
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Mediterranean Diet and hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal of hepatology, 2013Co-Authors: Federica Turati, Antonia Trichopoulou, Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Jerry Polesel, Francesca Bravi, Marta Rossi, Renato Talamini, Silvia Franceschi, Maurizio Montella, Carlo La VecchiaAbstract:Background & Aims Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a very poor prognosis and any effort to identify additional risk factors, besides those already established, would be important for the prevention of the disease. Data on the role of Diet on HCC risk are still controversial. Methods We have evaluated the association of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with HCC risk, as well as the interaction of this Dietary pattern with chronic hepatitis infection, by combining two case-control studies undertaken in Italy and Greece, including overall 518 cases of HCC and 772 controls. Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet score (MDS), which ranges between 0 (lowest adherence) and 9 (highest adherence). Odds ratios (OR) for HCC were obtained through multiple logistic regression models, controlling for potentially confounding factors, including chronic infection with hepatitis B/C viruses. Results Compared to MDS of 0–3, the ORs for HCC were 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41–1.04) for MDS equal to 4 and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.34–0.75) for MDS ⩾5, with a significant trend ( p Conclusions Closer adherence to the Mediterranean Diet appears to be protective against HCC. Our results also point to potential benefits from adhering to a Mediterranean Dietary pattern for patients chronically infected with hepatitis viruses.
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Mediterranean Diet and coronary heart disease: are antioxidants critical?
Nutrition reviews, 2009Co-Authors: Antonia Trichopoulou, Vasilopoulou E, Lagiou AAbstract:There is substantial evidence that several variants of the Mediterranean Diet reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and perhaps other chronic conditions. Recently, the final results of the Lyon Diet Heart Study, a randomized secondary prevention trial, indicated that the Mediterranean Diet substantially reduces the rate of recurrence after a first myocardial infarction. Data from this study also suggest that the Mediterranean Diet protects against CHD through mechanisms that are independent of traditional CHD risk factors. We postulate that the antioxidant properties of several plant foods in the Mediterranean Diet may be critical mediators of the beneficial effects of this Diet.
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healthy traditional Mediterranean Diet an expression of culture history and lifestyle
Nutrition Reviews, 2009Co-Authors: Antonia Trichopoulou, Pagona LagiouAbstract:The term Mediterranean Diet refers to Dietary patterns found in olive-growing areas of the Mediterranean region and described in the 1960s and beyond. There are several variants of the Mediterranean Diet, but some common components can be identified: high monounsaturated/saturated fat ratio; ethanol consumption at moderate levels and mainly in the form of wine; high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains; moderate consumption of milk and dairy products, mostly in the form of cheese; and low consumption of meat and meat products. Growing evidence demonstrates that the Mediterranean Diet is beneficial to health; the evidence is stronger for coronary heart disease, but it also applies to some forms of cancer. Results from recent investigations provide a strong biomedical foundation for the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean Diet.
Carlo La Vecchia - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mediterranean Diet and Bladder Cancer Risk in Italy.
Nutrients, 2018Co-Authors: Francesca Bravi, Jerry Polesel, Maurizio Montella, Monica Ferraroni, Diego Serraino, Eva Negri, Maria-eleni Spei, Matteo Di Maso, Massimo Libra, Carlo La VecchiaAbstract:Previous studies have reported that Mediterranean Diet is inversely related to the risk of several neoplasms; however, limited epidemiological data are available for bladder cancer. Thus, we examined the association between Mediterranean Diet and this neoplasm in an Italian multicentric case-control study consisting of 690 bladder cancer cases and 665 controls. We assessed the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet via a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), which represents the major characteristics of the Mediterranean Diet and ranges from 0 to 9 (from minimal to maximal adherence, respectively). We derived odds ratios (ORs) of bladder cancer according to the MDS score from multiple logistic regression models, allowing for major confounding factors. The ORs of bladder cancer were 0.72 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.54⁻0.98) for MDS of 4⁻5 and 0.66 (95% CI, 0.47⁻0.93) for MDS of 6⁻9 (p for trend = 0.02) compared to MDS = 0⁻3. Results were similar in strata of sex, age, and education, while the risk appeared somewhat lower in never-smokers and patients with pT1⁻pT4 bladder carcinomas. Among individual components of the MDS, we observed inverse associations for greater consumption of legumes, vegetables, and fish. In our study, which was carried out on an Italian population, the higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was related to a lower risk of bladder cancer.
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Med Diet 4.0: the Mediterranean Diet with four sustainable benefits
Public Health Nutrition, 2017Co-Authors: Sandro Dernini, Carlo La Vecchia, F. Xavier Medina, Barbara Burlingame, E. M. Berry, L. Serra-majem, R. Capone, J. Aranceta-bartrina, R. Belahsen, G. CalabreseAbstract:Objective: To characterize the multiple dimensions and benefits of the Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable Diet, in order to revitalize this intangible food heritage at the country level; and to develop a multidimensional framework - the Med Diet 4.0 - in which four sustainability benefits of the Mediterranean Diet are presented in parallel: major health and nutrition benefits, low environmental impacts and richness in biodiversity, high sociocultural food values, and positive local economic returns. Design: A narrative review was applied at the country level to highlight the multiple sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean Diet into a single multidimensional framework: the Med Diet 4.0. Setting/subjects: We included studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals that contained data on the characterization of sustainable Diets and of the Mediterranean Diet. The methodological framework approach was finalized through a series of meetings, workshops and conferences where the framework was presented, discussed and ultimately refined. Results: The Med Diet 4.0 provides a conceptual multidimensional framework to characterize the Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable Diet model, by applying principles of sustainability to the Mediterranean Diet. Conclusions: By providing a broader understanding of the many sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, the Med Diet 4.0 can contribute to the revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet by improving its current perception not only as a healthy Diet but also a sustainable lifestyle model, with country-specific and culturally appropriate variations. It also takes into account the identity and diversity of food cultures and systems, expressed within the notion of the Mediterranean Diet, across the Mediterranean region and in other parts of the world. Further multidisciplinary studies are needed for the assessment of the sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet to include these new dimensions.
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Mediterranean Diet and hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal of hepatology, 2013Co-Authors: Federica Turati, Antonia Trichopoulou, Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Jerry Polesel, Francesca Bravi, Marta Rossi, Renato Talamini, Silvia Franceschi, Maurizio Montella, Carlo La VecchiaAbstract:Background & Aims Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a very poor prognosis and any effort to identify additional risk factors, besides those already established, would be important for the prevention of the disease. Data on the role of Diet on HCC risk are still controversial. Methods We have evaluated the association of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with HCC risk, as well as the interaction of this Dietary pattern with chronic hepatitis infection, by combining two case-control studies undertaken in Italy and Greece, including overall 518 cases of HCC and 772 controls. Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet score (MDS), which ranges between 0 (lowest adherence) and 9 (highest adherence). Odds ratios (OR) for HCC were obtained through multiple logistic regression models, controlling for potentially confounding factors, including chronic infection with hepatitis B/C viruses. Results Compared to MDS of 0–3, the ORs for HCC were 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41–1.04) for MDS equal to 4 and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.34–0.75) for MDS ⩾5, with a significant trend ( p Conclusions Closer adherence to the Mediterranean Diet appears to be protective against HCC. Our results also point to potential benefits from adhering to a Mediterranean Dietary pattern for patients chronically infected with hepatitis viruses.
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Mediterranean Diet and cancer risk
European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2004Co-Authors: Silvano Gallus, Cristina Bosetti, Carlo La VecchiaAbstract:: Various aspects of the Mediterranean Diet are considered favourable with regard to cancer risk. These aspects were analysed using data from a series of case-control studies conducted in northern Italy between 1983 and 2001 on over 12,000 cases of 20 cancer sites and 10,000 controls. For most epithelial cancers, the risk decreased with increasing vegetable and fruit consumption, with odds ratios (OR) between 0.3 and 0.7 for the highest versus the lowest tertile. Subjects reporting frequent red meat intake showed ORs above unity for several common neoplasms. Conversely, fish (and consequently, n-3 fatty acids) tended to be another favourable Dietary indicator. Wholegrain food intake was related to reduced risk of several types of cancer, particularly of the upper digestive tract, probably on account of its high fibre content. Fibres were in fact found to be protective with regard to colorectal and other selected cancers. In contrast to wholegrain, refined grain intake, and consequently glycaemic load, was associated with an increased risk of different types of cancer, including those of the upper digestive tract, colorectum, breast and endometrium. These results thus suggest that a low-risk Diet for cancer entails increasing vegetables and fruit, reducing meat, but also refined carbohydrate consumption. Furthermore, olive oil and other unsaturated fats, which may be a unique common characteristic of the Mediterranean Diet, should be preferred to animal and saturated fats. A score summarizing the major characteristics of the Mediterranean Diet was inversely and consistently related to the risk of selected cancer sites. Regular consumption of pizza, one of the most typical Italian foods, showed a reduced risk of digestive tract cancers. Pizza could however simply be an indicator of a typical Italian Diet.
Dimitrios Trichopoulos - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mediterranean Diet and hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal of hepatology, 2013Co-Authors: Federica Turati, Antonia Trichopoulou, Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Jerry Polesel, Francesca Bravi, Marta Rossi, Renato Talamini, Silvia Franceschi, Maurizio Montella, Carlo La VecchiaAbstract:Background & Aims Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a very poor prognosis and any effort to identify additional risk factors, besides those already established, would be important for the prevention of the disease. Data on the role of Diet on HCC risk are still controversial. Methods We have evaluated the association of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with HCC risk, as well as the interaction of this Dietary pattern with chronic hepatitis infection, by combining two case-control studies undertaken in Italy and Greece, including overall 518 cases of HCC and 772 controls. Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet score (MDS), which ranges between 0 (lowest adherence) and 9 (highest adherence). Odds ratios (OR) for HCC were obtained through multiple logistic regression models, controlling for potentially confounding factors, including chronic infection with hepatitis B/C viruses. Results Compared to MDS of 0–3, the ORs for HCC were 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41–1.04) for MDS equal to 4 and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.34–0.75) for MDS ⩾5, with a significant trend ( p Conclusions Closer adherence to the Mediterranean Diet appears to be protective against HCC. Our results also point to potential benefits from adhering to a Mediterranean Dietary pattern for patients chronically infected with hepatitis viruses.
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Mediterranean Diet and survival among patients with coronary heart disease in greece
JAMA Internal Medicine, 2005Co-Authors: Antonia Trichopoulou, Christina Bamia, Dimitrios TrichopoulosAbstract:Background The Mediterranean Diet has been hypothesized to reduce fatality among patients with coronary heart disease. Methods We examined the association between the degree of adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet and survival of persons with diagnosed coronary heart disease at enrollment, in a population-based prospective investigation of 1302 Greek men and women, who were followed up for an average of 3.78 years (the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition cohort). Information on usual Dietary intakes during the year preceding enrollment was recorded through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was assessed by a 10-unit Mediterranean Diet score that incorporates the salient characteristics of this Diet. Proportional hazards regression was used to assess the relation of overall degree of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with mortality overall or by cause (cardiac vs noncardiac). Results Higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet by 2 units was associated with a 27% lower mortality rate among persons with prevalent coronary heart disease at enrollment (total deaths, 131; adjusted mortality ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.93). The reduced mortality was more evident and amounted to 31% (total deaths, 85; adjusted mortality ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.93) when only cardiac deaths were considered as the relevant outcome. Associations between individual food groups contributing to the Mediterranean Diet score and mortality were generally not significant. Conclusion Greater adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet is associated with a significant reduction in mortality among individuals diagnosed as having coronary heart disease.
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Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and Survival in a Greek Population
The New England journal of medicine, 2003Co-Authors: Antonia Trichopoulou, Tina Costacou, Christina Bamia, Dimitrios TrichopoulosAbstract:BACKGROUND Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet may improve longevity, but relevant data are limited. METHODS We conducted a population-based, prospective investigation involving 22,043 adults in Greece who completed an extensive, validated, food-frequency questionnaire at base line. Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet was assessed by a 10-point Mediterranean-Diet scale that incorporated the salient characteristics of this Diet (range of scores, 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater adherence). We used proportional-hazards regression to assess the relation between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and total mortality, as well as mortality due to coronary heart disease and mortality due to cancer, with adjustment for age, sex, body-mass index, physical-activity level, and other potential confounders. RESULTS During a median of 44 months of follow-up, there were 275 deaths. A higher degree of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was associated with a reduction in total mortality (adjusted hazard ratio for death associated with a two-point increment in the Mediterranean-Diet score, 0.75 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.87]). An inverse association with greater adherence to this Diet was evident for both death due to coronary heart disease (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.67 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.47 to 0.94]) and death due to cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.76 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.59 to 0.98]). Associations between individual food groups contributing to the Mediterranean-Diet score and total mortality were generally not significant. CONCLUSIONS Greater adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet is associated with a significant reduction in total mortality.
Lluís Serra-majem - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mediterranean Diet to Promote Healthy Aging
Current Geriatrics Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Blanca Roman-viñas, Lluís Serra-majemAbstract:Purpose The Mediterranean Diet is known to be one of the healthiest Diet patterns to prevent chronic diseases but there is a need to know its role in increasing the quality of life or the physical function at older ages. Recent Findings A systematic search was performed to answer the question “Does the adherence to a Mediterranean Diet pattern help individuals older than 65 years having a long and healthy live without physical function limitations?” Summary The search strategy obtained six articles (three were cross-sectional and three longitudinal studies). Two of the studies contained data from non-Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean Diet adherence was measured with different types of a priori defined indexes, and the outcomes of interest were highly diverse, measuring quality of life, or functionality or functional deficits. A higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet pattern increases some measures of physical function, strength performance, or quality of life.
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Osteoarthritis and the Mediterranean Diet: A Systematic Review.
Nutrients, 2018Co-Authors: Isabel Morales-ivorra, Blanca Roman-viñas, Montserrat Romera-baures, Lluís Serra-majemAbstract:Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 240 million people globally. Few studies have examined the links between osteoarthritis and the Mediterranean Diet (MD). The aim of this paper was to systematically review and analyze the epidemiological evidence in humans on the MD and its association with OA. A systematic search of EMBASE identified three studies that explored the association between MD and OA. Two of them were cross-sectional and the third one was a 16-week randomized clinical trial. Prisma declaration was followed to carry out this review. These studies described a positive association between a higher adherence to a MD and the quality of life of participants suffering OA. The prevalence of OA was lower in participants with a higher adherence to a Mediterranean Diet. Biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage degradation related to OA were also analyzed and significant differences were detected only for IL1-α, which decreased in the MD group. Exploring the relationship between MD and OA is complex, moreover, the limited evidence and methodological differences in such studies makes it difficult to compare results. In conclusion, the three studies included in this systematic review demonstrated some relation between osteoarthritis and a Mediterranean Diet. However, prospective and longer interventions are required to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the Mediterranean Diet to improve symptomatology and preventing osteoarthritis.
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Mediterranean Diet to Promote Healthy Aging
Current Geriatrics Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Blanca Roman-viñas, Lluís Serra-majemAbstract:The Mediterranean Diet is known to be one of the healthiest Diet patterns to prevent chronic diseases but there is a need to know its role in increasing the quality of life or the physical function at older ages. A systematic search was performed to answer the question “Does the adherence to a Mediterranean Diet pattern help individuals older than 65 years having a long and healthy live without physical function limitations?” The search strategy obtained six articles (three were cross-sectional and three longitudinal studies). Two of the studies contained data from non-Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean Diet adherence was measured with different types of a priori defined indexes, and the outcomes of interest were highly diverse, measuring quality of life, or functionality or functional deficits. A higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet pattern increases some measures of physical function, strength performance, or quality of life.
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Nutritional and cultural aspects of the Mediterranean Diet.
International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vi, 2012Co-Authors: Lluís Serra-majem, Anna Bach-faig, Blanca Raidó-quintanaAbstract:The recent recognition by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of the Mediterranean Diet as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity reinforces, together with the scientific evidence, the Mediterranean Diet as a cultural and health model. The Mediterranean Diet has numerous beneficial effects on among others the immune system, against allergies, on the psyche, or even on quality of life, topics that are currently fields of research. The Mediterranean Diet has an international projection; it is regarded as the healthiest and the most sustainable eating pattern on the planet and is a key player in the public health nutrition field globally, but especially in the Mediterranean area. Moreover, this ancient cultural heritage should be preserved and promoted from different areas: public health, agriculture, culture, politics, and economic development.
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Obesity and the Mediterranean Diet: a systematic review of observational and intervention studies
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2008Co-Authors: Genevieve Buckland, A. Bach, Lluís Serra-majemAbstract:World Health Organization projections estimate that worldwide approximately one-third of adults are overweight and one-tenth are obese. There is accumulating research into the Mediterranean Diet and whether it could prevent or treat obesity. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to systematically review and analyse the epidemiological evidence on the Mediterranean Diet and overweight/obesity. We identified 21 epidemiological studies that explored the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet and weight. These included seven cross-sectional, three cohort and 11 intervention studies. Of these, 13 studies reported that Mediterranean Diet adherence was significantly related to less overweight/obesity or more weight loss. Eight studies found no evidence of this association. Exploring the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet and overweight/obesity is complex, and there are important methodological differences and limitations in the studies that make it difficult to compare results. Although the results are inconsistent, the evidence points towards a possible role of the Mediterranean Diet in preventing overweight/obesity, and physiological mechanisms can explain this protective effect. Despite this, more research is needed to substantiate this association. Epidemiological studies should use a consistent universal definition of the Mediterranean Diet, and address common methodological limitations to strengthen the quality of research in this area.
Sandro Dernini - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Med Diet 4.0: the Mediterranean Diet with four sustainable benefits
Public Health Nutrition, 2017Co-Authors: Sandro Dernini, Carlo La Vecchia, F. Xavier Medina, Barbara Burlingame, E. M. Berry, L. Serra-majem, R. Capone, J. Aranceta-bartrina, R. Belahsen, G. CalabreseAbstract:Objective: To characterize the multiple dimensions and benefits of the Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable Diet, in order to revitalize this intangible food heritage at the country level; and to develop a multidimensional framework - the Med Diet 4.0 - in which four sustainability benefits of the Mediterranean Diet are presented in parallel: major health and nutrition benefits, low environmental impacts and richness in biodiversity, high sociocultural food values, and positive local economic returns. Design: A narrative review was applied at the country level to highlight the multiple sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean Diet into a single multidimensional framework: the Med Diet 4.0. Setting/subjects: We included studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals that contained data on the characterization of sustainable Diets and of the Mediterranean Diet. The methodological framework approach was finalized through a series of meetings, workshops and conferences where the framework was presented, discussed and ultimately refined. Results: The Med Diet 4.0 provides a conceptual multidimensional framework to characterize the Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable Diet model, by applying principles of sustainability to the Mediterranean Diet. Conclusions: By providing a broader understanding of the many sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, the Med Diet 4.0 can contribute to the revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet by improving its current perception not only as a healthy Diet but also a sustainable lifestyle model, with country-specific and culturally appropriate variations. It also takes into account the identity and diversity of food cultures and systems, expressed within the notion of the Mediterranean Diet, across the Mediterranean region and in other parts of the world. Further multidisciplinary studies are needed for the assessment of the sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet to include these new dimensions.
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Mediterranean Diet from a healthy Diet to a sustainable Dietary pattern
Frontiers in Nutrition, 2015Co-Authors: Sandro Dernini, E. M. BerryAbstract:The notion of the Mediterranean Diet has undergone a progressive evolution over the past 60 years, from a healthy Dietary pattern to a sustainable Dietary pattern, in which nutrition, food, cultures, people, environment and sustainability all interact into a new model of a sustainable Diet. An overview of the historical antecedents and recent increased interest in the Mediterranean Diet is presented and challenges related how to improve the sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet are identified. Despite its increasing popularity worldwide, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet model is decreasing for multifactorial influences – life styles changes, food globalization, economic and socio-cultural factors. These changes pose serious threats to the preservation and transmission of the Mediterranean Diet heritage to present and future generations. Today’s challenge is to reverse such trends. A greater focus on the Mediterranean Diet's potential as a sustainable Dietary pattern, instead than just on its well documented healthy benefits, can contribute to its enhancement. More cross-disciplinary studies on environmental, economic and socio-cultural, sustainability dimensions of the Mediterranean Diet are foreseen as a critical need.
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Sustainable Diets: the Mediterranean Diet as an example.
Public health nutrition, 2011Co-Authors: Barbara Burlingame, Sandro DerniniAbstract:Objective: To present the Mediterranean Diet as an example of a sustainable Diet, in which nutrition, biodiversity, local food production, culture and sustainability are strongly interconnected. Design: Review of notions and activities contributing towards the acknowledgement of the Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable Diet. Setting: The Mediterranean region and its populations. Subjects: Mediterranean populations. Results and conclusions: The acknowledgement of the Mediterranean Diet as a sustainable Diet needs the development of new cross-cutting intersectoral case studies to demonstrate further the synergies among nutrition, biodiversity and sustainability as expressed by the Mediterranean Diet for the benefit of present and future generations.
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Mediterranean Diet and prevention of non-communicable diseases: scientific evidences
Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita, 2009Co-Authors: A R Proietti, Sandro Dernini, V Del Balzo, Lorenzo M. Donini, Carlo CannellaAbstract:Epidemiological studies showed that the Mediterranean Diet represents a healthy food model in the maintenance of the state of health and in the improvement of the quality of life. The aim of this study was to define the relation between the Mediterranean Diet and the state of health, particularly the role in the prevention of the non-communicable diseases. A systematic literature review was made, analyzing clinical trials published on PubMed from January 2005 to September 2008 and using, separately or in combination, the key words: "Mediterranean Diet", "Health", "Prevention", "Diabetes", "Lipoproteins", "Cardiovascular Diseases", "Cancer." A total of 16 articles were selected. The studies included 101 to 25623 caucasian participants, of both genders, age between 18 and 80 years. Results were analyzed for the effects of the Mediterranean Diet on Cancer; Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Diseases, in terms of primary and secondary prevention. The Mediterranean Diet showed benefits on the incidence of cancer in healthy subjects, on the metabolic syndrome both in primary prevention that secondary, modifying numerous variables and about cardiovascular diseases, the Mediterranean Diet reduced the risk of relapse and the mortality by acute coronary syndromes and other cardiovascular causes in high risk patients. First of all the Mediterranean Diet must strongly be considered a correlated food model to the style of life, therefore it need further experimental research to validate the effects of Mediterranean Diet on the state of health.
