Submit to Nutrients Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 15009

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Joanna Kaluza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: nutritional epidemiology; diet quality; dietary supplements; inflammation; oxidative stress; nutritional status
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Maria Szmidt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The original concept of the Mediterranean diet was developed in 1960 by Ancel Keys and concerned a dietary pattern observed among populations from Greece and Southern Italy. Nowadays, many researchers adopt the concept for countries outside the Mediterranean region where a Western-type diet dominates. There are many ways to define adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and researchers adjust the concept to local nutritional behaviors and diet.

Until now, adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been extensively studied in relation to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and all-cause mortality. However, associations between the Mediterranean diet and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are not yet well-studied.

The aim of this Special Issue is to focus on the potential benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on NCDs, especially those that have been studied to a lower extent. Moreover, it aims to broaden the perspective on problems and crucial questions that remain unsolved within this topic:

What do we know about the impact of the Mediterranean diet on populations outside of the Mediterranean area?
Is there any association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and markers of NCDs?
Should we look at the Mediterranean diet as a part of overall lifestyle when assessing its health benefits?
The role of the Mediterranean diet components, their interaction with other consumed items, and the mechanism of providing health benefits.

With this Special Issue of Nutrients we hope to partially answer the above questions and determine health benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on some NCDs. Authors are invited to submit original research, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and studies on relevant physiological mechanisms.

Dr. Joanna Kaluza
Dr. Maria Szmidt
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

diet quality
dietary patterns
disease-related biomarkers
health
non-communicable diseases
nutritional status
prooxidant–anioxidant status

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet, Dietary Salt Intake, and Susceptibility to Nephrolithiasis: A Case–Control Study

by Veronica Abate, Anita Vergatti, Paola Iaccarino Idelson, Costantino Recano, Marzia Brancaccio, Domenico Prezioso, Riccardo Muscariello, Vincenzo Nuzzo, Gianpaolo De Filippo, Pasquale Strazzullo, Raffaella Faraonio, Ferruccio Galletti, Domenico Rendina and Lanfranco D’Elia

Nutrients 2024, 16(6), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060783 - 09 Mar 2024

Viewed by 783

Abstract

Unhealthy dietary habits play a key role in the pathogenesis of nephrolithiasis (NL). The aims of this case–control study were to evaluate (i) the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and the dietary salt intake in stone-forming patients (SF), (ii) the relationship occurring between MD adherence, salt intake and NL-related metabolic risk factors in SF, and (iii) the impact of combined high MD adherence and low salt intake on NL susceptibility. From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019, we recruited all SF consecutively referred to the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) center of Federico II University, and at least two control subjects without a personal history of NL, age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched to SF (NSF). All study participants were interviewed using the validated MEDI-LITE and MINISAL questionnaires. In an SF subgroup, the NL-related metabolic risk factors were also evaluated. SF showed a lower MD adherence and a higher salt intake compared with NSF. The NL susceptibility decreased by 36% [OR: 0.64 (0.59–0.70); p < 0.01] for each point of increase in MEDI-LITE score, while it increased by 13% [OR: 1.13 (1.03–1.25); p = 0.01] for each point of increase in MINISAL score. The SF prevalence was higher among subjects showing combined low MD adherence and high salt intake. In SF, the MEDI-LITE score directly correlated with 24 h-citraturia, whereas the MINISAL score directly correlated with urinary sodium and uric acid excretion. In conclusion, high MD adherence and low salt intake are associated with a reduced NL susceptibility, both separately and in combination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Its Influence on Anthropometric and Fitness Variables in High-Level Adolescent Athletes

by Antonio E. Vélez-Alcázar, Juan Alfonso García-Roca and Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal

Nutrients 2024, 16(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16050624 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 662

Abstract

The objectives of the present research were to analyze adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD), to observe which variables most affect AMD, and to analyze whether AMD affects physical fitness and anthropometric parameters in high-level adolescent athletes. A total of 96 adolescent athletes in the under-16, under-18, and under-20 categories selected by the Athletics Federation of the Region of Murcia, of whom 47 were male (age = 18.31 ± 2.31 years old) and 49 female (age = 17.27 ± 1.44 years old), participated in this study. They completed the KIDMED questionnaire to discover their AMD, as well as an anthropometric and physical condition assessment. Results: The findings show that 61.45% had an excellent degree of AMD, 31.25% a moderate one, and 7.30% a poor one. The parameters that most conditioned AMD were the consumption of fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, breakfast cereals, and dairy products (p = 0.011–0.000). AMD did not show significant differences in anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness (p = 0.057–0.996). Conclusions: The majority of high-level adolescent athletes have a moderate or excellent AMD. The degree of AMD seems to have no influence on physical fitness and anthropometric parameters in this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

15 pages, 4805 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediterranean-Style Diet and Other Determinants of Well-Being in Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Women

by Joanna Kaluza, Katarzyna Lozynska, Julia Rudzinska, Dominika Granda, Ewa Sicinska and Maria Karolina Szmidt

Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030725 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2982

Abstract

Due to the lack of studies comparing the determinants of well-being in omnivores and vegetarians, we examined associations of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, including adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet, in relation to well-being in omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan women. Well-being was assessed using a validated WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Adherence to the Mediterranean-style diet was determined using a modified Mediterranean diet score. The study was conducted on 636 women (23.9 ± 5.7 years), of whom 47.3% were omnivores, 33.2% vegetarians, and 19.5% vegans. The good well-being group (WHO-5 Index ≥ 13 points) comprised 30.9% of the omnivores, 46.0% of the vegetarians, and 57.3% of the vegans. The remaining participants were classified as belonging to the poor well-being group (<13 points). Compared to the omnivores, the vegetarians and vegans had a 1.6-fold (95% CI: 1.04–2.42) and a 2.4-fold (95% CI: 1.45–3.99) higher probability of having good well-being, respectively. In omnivores, the predictors of good well-being were adherence to the Mediterranean-style diet (a 1-score increment was associated with a 17% higher probability of good well-being, P-trend = 0.016), higher self-perceived health status, and lower levels of stress. In vegetarians and vegans, it was older age, higher physical activity (≥3 h/week), 7–8 h sleep time, and similarly to omnivores’ higher self-perceived health status and lower stress level. Our findings indicate that following a Mediterranean-style diet was associated with better well-being in omnivores. Furthermore, we identified that different determinants were associated with well-being in omnivorous and vegetarian and vegan women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Serum Adipokines, miR-222-3p, miR-103a-3p and Glucose Regulation in Pregnancy and Two to Three Years Post-Delivery in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Adhering to Mediterranean Diet Recommendations

by Johanna Valerio, Ana Barabash, Nuria Garcia de la Torre, Paz De Miguel, Verónica Melero, Laura del Valle, Inmaculada Moraga, Cristina Familiar, Alejandra Durán, Maria Jose Torrejón, Angel Diaz, Inés Jiménez, Pilar Matia, Miguel Angel Rubio and Alfonso Luis Calle-Pascual

Nutrients 2022, 14(22), 4712; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224712 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1713

Abstract

The San Carlos Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) prevention study, a nutritional intervention RCT based on a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), has been shown to reduce the incidence of GDM. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship of leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), insulin and HOMA-IRand circulating miRNAs (miR-29a-3p, miR-103a-3p, miR-132-3p, miR-222-3p) with the appearance of GDM and with MedDiet-based nutritional intervention, at 24–28 gestational weeks (GW), and in glucose regulation 2–3 years post-delivery (PD). A total of 313 pregnant women, 77 with GDM vs. 236 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 141 from the control group (CG, MedDiet restricting the consumption of dietary fat including EVOO and nuts during pregnancy) vs. 172 from the intervention group (IG, MedDiet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and pistachios during pregnancy) were compared at Visit 1 (8–12 GW), Visit 2 (24–28 GW) and Visit 3 (2–3 years PD). Expression of miRNAs was determined by the Exiqon miRCURY LNA RT-PCR system. Leptin, adiponectin, IL-6 and TNF-α, were measured by Milliplex^® immunoassays on Luminex 200 and insulin by RIA. Women with GDM vs. NTG had significantly higher leptin median (Q1–Q3) levels (14.6 (9.2–19.4) vs. 9.6 (6.0–15.1) ng/mL; p < 0.05) and insulin levels (11.4 (8.6–16.5) vs. 9.4 (7.0–12.8) µUI/mL; p < 0.001) and lower adiponectin (12.9 (9.8–17.2) vs. 17.0 (13.3–22.4) µg/mL; p < 0.001) at Visit 2. These findings persisted in Visit 3, with overexpression of miR-222-3p (1.45 (0.76–2.21) vs. 0.99 (0.21–1.70); p < 0.05)) and higher levels of Il-6 and TNF-α. When the IG is compared with the CG lower levels of insulin, HOMA-IR-IR, IL-6 levels at Visit 2 and 3 and leptin levels only at Visit 2 were observed. An overexpression of miR-222-3p and miR-103a-3p were also observed in IG at Visit 2 and 3. The miR-222-3p and miR103a-3p expression correlated with insulin levels, HOMA-IR, IL-6 and TNF-α at Visit 2 (all p < 0.05). These data support the association of leptin, adiponectin and insulin/HOMA-IR with GDM, as well as the association of insulin/HOMA-IR and IL-6 and miR-222-3p and miR-103a-3p expression with a MedDiet-based nutritional intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

9 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Incidence of Pre-Frailty and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Adults 70+: The 3-Year DO-HEALTH Study

by Stephanie Gängler, Hanna Steiner, Michael Gagesch, Sophie Guyonnet, E. John Orav, Arnold von Eckardstein, Walter C. Willett and Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari

Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4145; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194145 - 06 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2293

Abstract

The Mediterranean diet has been associated with many health benefits. Therefore, we investigated whether the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline, or changes in adherence over time, were associated with the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty in generally healthy older adults. This study used the DO-HEALTH trial data. We evaluated Mediterranean diet adherence with Panagiotakos’ MedDietScore at baseline and at 3-year follow-up; frailty was assessed annually with the Fried frailty phenotype. We used minimally and fully adjusted mixed logistic regression models to estimate the exposure–disease relationship. We included 1811 participants without frailty at baseline (mean age 74.7 years; 59.4% women). Baseline adherence, as reflected by the MedDietScore, was not associated with becoming pre-frail [OR(95%CI) = 0.93 (0.83–1.03) for five-point greater adherence] or frail [OR(95%CI) = 0.90 (0.73–1.12) for five points]. However, a five-point increase in the MedDietScore over three years was associated with lower odds of becoming pre-frail [OR(95%CI) = 0.77 (0.68–0.88)] and frail [OR(95%CI) = 0.77 (0.64–0.92)]. In generally healthy and active older adults, baseline adherence to the Mediterranean diet was not associated with the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty over a 3-year follow-up. However, improved adherence to the Mediterranean diet over time was associated with significantly lower odds of becoming pre-frail or frail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

13 pages, 587 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Risk of Depressive Symptomatology in a French Population-Based Cohort of Older Adults

by Jeanne Bardinet, Virginie Chuy, Isabelle Carriere, Cédric Galéra, Camille Pouchieu, Cécilia Samieri, Catherine Helmer, Audrey Cougnard-Grégoire and Catherine Féart

Nutrients 2022, 14(19), 4121; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194121 - 04 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1750

Abstract

Several foods from the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) have already been characterized as beneficial for depression risk, while studies focusing on adherence to the overall MeDi are lacking among older adults at higher risk of depression. The aim of this study was to assess the association between MeDi adherence and the risk of depressive symptomatology (DS) in an older French cohort followed for 15 years. Participants from the Three-City Bordeaux cohort answered a food frequency questionnaire used to assess their MeDi adherence. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale score of 16 or greater and/or use of antidepressant treatment ascertained at each visit defined incident DS. Random-effect logistic regression models were adjusted for potential confounders. Among 1018 participants, aged 75.6 years (SD 4.8 years) on average at baseline, 400 incident cases of DS were identified during the follow-up. Only when restricting the definition of DS to a CES-D score ≥ 16 was a borderline-significant trend towards a benefit of greater adherence to the MeDi with reduced odds of DS found (p-value = 0.053). In this large sample of older French adults, a potential benefit of greater adherence to the MeDi regarding the risk of DS would depend on the definition of DS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 1095 KiB

Open AccessReview

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Women and Reproductive Health across the Lifespan: A Narrative Review

by Maria Karolina Szmidt, Dominika Granda, Dawid Madej, Ewa Sicinska and Joanna Kaluza

Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2131; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092131 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3940

Abstract

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been previously proven to have various health-related benefits; however, its effect on women’s reproductive health over a lifespan is yet to be summarized. This study aimed to summarize the evidence-based knowledge regarding the association between the MD and selected reproductive health outcomes. By searching PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases, as well as reference lists, 21 studies were included in this narrative review. The available evidence was very limited; however, there is some suggestion that higher adherence to the MD may be positively associated with a lower risk of early age menarche (1 study) and shorter menstrual cycles (1 study), but is unrelated to dysmenorrhea (1 study). Moreover, no study to date has examined the relationship between the MD and the onset age of natural menopause. Considering reproductive health diseases, there was limited evidence that a higher adherence to the MD was associated with a lower risk of premenstrual syndrome (1 study), an improvement in sexual health and a lower prevalence of sexual dysfunction (3 studies), and an improvement in the general condition of with endometriosis and the pain they can experience (1 study). The largest number of studies were found for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS; 7 studies) and infertility (6 studies). Results showed that a higher adherence to the MD was associated with a lower risk of infertility, while results for PCOS were unclear, but mostly indicated a beneficial trend. Further investigations are necessary to establish the role of adherence to the MD in reproductive health maintenance and its possible role in the prevention and treatment of reproductive health diseases in women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Benefits of Mediterranean Diet on Non-communicable Diseases

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI