scholarly journals The use of indexes evaluating the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in epidemiological studies: a review

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (1a) ◽  
pp. 132-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Bach ◽  
Lluís Serra-Majem ◽  
Josep L Carrasco ◽  
Blanca Roman ◽  
Joy Ngo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Global Evaluation ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Reference Pattern ◽  
Diet Pattern ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Quantitative Definition

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to review some of the methods that several epidemiological studies use to evaluate the adherence of a population to the Mediterranean diet pattern. Among these methods, diet indexes attempt to make a global evaluation of the quality of the diet based on a traditional Mediterranean reference pattern, described as a priori, general and qualitative. The Mediterranean diet indexes, hence, summarise the diet by means of a single score that results from a function of different components, such as food, food groups or a combination of foods and nutrients. The reviewed evaluation methods can be classified into three categories depending on the way they are calculated: (1) those based on a positive or negative scoring of the components, (2) those that add or substract standardised components, and (3) those that are based on a ratio between components.Dietary scores have been used to explore the multiple associations between the Mediterranean diet, as an integral entity, and health parameters such as life expectancy or the incidence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancers. Moreover, these indexes are also useful tools to measure food consumption trends and to identify the involved factors, as well as to develop comprehensive public health nutrition recommendations.A more precise and quantitative definition of the Mediterranean diet is required if the adherence to such a dietary pattern is intended to be more accurately measured. Other aspects of the Mediterranean diet indexes should also be taken into account, like the inclusion of typical Mediterranean foods such as nuts and fish and the validation of the dietary pattern approach by using biomarkers.

scholarly journals Dietary patterns, food groups and myocardial infarction: a case–control study

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. K. Lockheart ◽  
Lyn M. Steffen ◽  
Hege Møklebust Rebnord ◽  
Ragnhild Lekven Fimreite ◽  
Jetmund Ringstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Diet Pattern ◽  
Control Study

Certain dietary patterns may be related to the risk of CVD. We hypothesised that a plant-centred dietary pattern would be associated with a reduced risk of first myocardial infarction (MI). A case–control study of Norwegian men and postmenopausal women (age 45–75 years) was performed. A FFQ was administered, generally within 3 d after incident MI (n106 cases). Controls (n105) were frequency matched on sex, age and geographic location. On the FFQ, 190 items were categorised into thirty-five food groups and ana priorihealthy diet pattern score was created. We estimated OR using logistic regression with adjustment for energy intake, family history of heart disease, marital status, current smoking, education and age. Among food groups, the risk of MI was significantly higher persdof butter and margarine (OR 1·66 (95 % CI 1·12, 2·46)), and lower persdof tomatoes (OR 0·53 (95 % CI 0·35, 0·79)), high-fat fish (OR 0·57 (95 % CI 0·38, 0·86)), wine (OR 0·58 (95 % CI 0·41, 0·83)), salad (OR 0·59 (95 % CI 0·40, 0·87)), wholegrain breakfast cereals (OR 0·64 (95 % CI 0·45, 0·90)), cruciferous vegetables (OR 0·66 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·93)) and non-hydrogenated vegetable oil (OR 0·68 (95 % CI 0·49, 0·95)). An abundance of cases were found to have a lowa priorihealthy diet pattern score. A dietary pattern emphasising nutrient-rich plant foods and high-fat fish and low intransfatty acids was associated with decreased risk of MI among Norwegians.

scholarly journals Agreement among Mediterranean Diet Pattern Adherence Indexes: MCC-Spain Study

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío Olmedo-Requena ◽  
Carmen González-Donquiles ◽  
Verónica Dávila-Batista ◽  
Dora Romaguera ◽  
Adela Castelló ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Mediterranean Dietary Pattern ◽  
Adherence Score ◽  
Diet Pattern ◽  
Study Population ◽  
High Level ◽  
Diet Score

There are many different methods used to measure the degree of adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD), limiting comparison and interpretation of their results. The concordance between different methodologies has been questioned and their evaluation recommended. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement among five indexes that measure adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern. The study population included healthy adults selected in the Multi-Case Control Spain (MCC-Spain) study recruited in 12 provinces. A total of 3640 controls were matched to cases by age and sex. To reach the aim, the following scores of adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern were calculated: Mediterranean diet score (MDS), alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED), relative Mediterranean diet (rMED), dietary score (DS) and literature-based adherence score (LBAS). The relative frequency of subjects with a high level of adherence to a MD varied from 22% (aMED index) to 37.2% (DS index). Similarly, a high variability was observed for the prevalence of a low level of MD: from 24% (rMED) to 38.4% (aMED). The correlation among MDS, aMED and rMED indexes was moderate, except for MDS and aMED with a high coefficient of correlation 0.75 (95% CI 0.74–0.77). The Cohen’s Kappa coefficient among indexes showed a moderate–fair concordance, except for MDS and aMED with a 0.56 (95% CI 0.55–0.59) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.66–0.68) using linear and quadratic weighting, respectively. The existing MD adherence indexes measured the same, although they were based on different constructing algorithms and varied in the food groups included, leading to a different classification of subjects. Therefore, concordance between these indexes was moderate or low.

scholarly journals Worldwide variation of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, in 1961–1965 and 2000–2003

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (9A) ◽  
pp. 1676-1684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui da Silva ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
Blanca Raidó Quintana ◽  
Genevieve Buckland ◽  
Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
The Other ◽  
Mediterranean Country ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Balance Sheets ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
European Group

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to analyse the worldwide trends of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in 1961–1965 and 2000–2003.DesignData were obtained from the FAO food balance sheets in two periods: 1961–1965 and 2000–2003. In order to have a sample from across the world, forty-one countries were selected. The average of available energy for different food groups was calculated for all selected countries. These values were used to evaluate the adherence to the MD through a variation of Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI).ResultsThe majority of the forty-one countries in this study have tended to drift away from a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern. Mediterranean Europe and the Other Mediterranean country groups suffered a significant decrease in their MAI values. The Mediterranean European group, especially Greece, experienced the greatest decrease in MAI value.In both periods, the Other Mediterranean countries showed the highest MAI values. In an analysis by countries, Iran had the highest increase in MAI across the time periods, and Egypt occupied the first place in the ranking in 2000–2003.The Northern European group was the only one that registered an increase in MAI, although this was not statistically significant.ConclusionsMany countries in the Mediterranean basin are drifting away from the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP). However, countries in Northern Europe and some other countries around the world are taking on a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern. The Other Mediterranean countries have the closest adherence to the MDP, currently and in the 1960s. Nutrition policy actions to tackle dietary westernisation and preserve the healthy prudent MDP are required.

scholarly journals Unhealthy Diet Pattern Mediates the Disproportionate Prevalence of Obesity among Adults with Socio-Economic Disadvantage: An Australian Representative Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1363
Author(s):  
Canaan Negash Seifu ◽  
Paul Patrick Fahey ◽  
Evan Atlantis
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Economic Disadvantage ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Disadvantaged Group ◽  
Diet Pattern ◽  
The Mediterranean

The role of unhealthy dietary pattern in the association between socio-economic factors and obesity is unclear. The aim was to examine the association between socio-economic disadvantage and obesity and to assess mediation effect of unhealthy dietary pattern defined using the Mediterranean diet criteria. The data source was the Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. The study sample included 7744 participants aged 18 years and over, 28% of whom had obesity. We used the Australian Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) classification system for categorizing socio-economic disadvantage; calculated the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) using standard criteria; and used measured body mass index to define obesity. We conducted a mediation analysis using log–binomial models to generate the prevalence ratio for obesity and the proportion mediated by the MDS. The most disadvantaged group was associated with higher level of obesity after controlling for covariates (1.40, 95% CI 1.25, 1.56) compared to the least disadvantaged group, and in a dose–response way for each decreasing SEIFA quintile. The relationship between socio-economic disadvantage and obesity was mediated by the MDS (4.0%, 95% CI 1.9, 8.0). Public health interventions should promote healthy dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, to reduce obesity, especially in communities with high socio-economic disadvantage.

scholarly journals Adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern, cognitive status and depressive symptoms in an elderly non-institutionalized population

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Hernández-Galiot ◽  
Isabel Goñi
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediterranean Dietary Pattern ◽  
Diet Pattern ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract: Introduction: Scientific evidence indicates that adherence to the Mediterranean diet protects against the deterioration of cognitive status and depressive symptoms during aging. However, few studies have been conducted in elderly non-institutionalized subjects. Objetive: This study evaluated the relation between the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and cognitive status and depressive symptoms in an elderly population over 75 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Mediterranean city (Garrucha, Spain) in 79 elderly people over 75 (36 men and 41 women). Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern was determined using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Cognitive function was determined by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: Most of population showed a very high adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern and optimal cognitive and affective status. They consumed olive oil as their main source of fat, high levels of fish and fruit, low levels of foods with added sugars, and a low consumption of red meat. A significant inverse relation between the MEDAS and MMSE scores was found. However, no relationship was observed between the MEDAS and GDS.Conclusions: The Mediterranean diet pattern was positively related with the cognitive function, although the influence of a healthy dietary pattern on the symptomatology of depression was unclear. However, an effective strategy against cognitive function and depression would be to improve physical activity rates, establish lifelong healthy eating habits, and consume a nutritionally-rich diet in order to enhance quality of life of the elderly.

scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet: The Need for Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5687
Author(s):  
F. Xavier Medina
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sustainable Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Past Half

The notion of the Mediterranean diet has progressively evolved over the past half a century, from a healthy (coronary) dietary pattern to a model of sustainable diet [...]

Associations between risk of malnutrition with dietary intake in people of older age: results from the HELIAD study

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirini Mamalaki ◽  
Costas A. Anastasiou ◽  
Meropi D. Kontogianni ◽  
Mary H. Kosmidis ◽  
Georgios M. Hadjigeorgiou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Nutritional Risk ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Specific Food

AbstractIntroductionLife expectancy has increased leading to a concomitant increase in the population of older people. Malnutrition, a major problem in this age group, deteriorates their health and quality of life. The association between risk of malnutrition and dietary intake has not been investigated sufficiently. The aim of this study was to examine potential associations between risk of malnutrition and dietary intake in a representative cohort of adults ≥ 65 years old.Materials and methods1,831 older people (mean age 73.1 ± 5.9 years old) from the HELIAD study were included in the analyses. Risk of malnutrition was assessed with the “Determine your Nutritional Health” checklist. Total score of the questionnaire ranges from 1–21, with 0–2 indicating good nutritional status, 3–5 moderate nutritional risk and ≥ 6 high nutritional risk. Dietary intake was evaluated with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, validated for the Greek population, from which consumption of specific food groups (non-refined cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, red meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, alcohol and sweets in servings/day) was estimated, as well as adherence to the Mediterranean diet, using a relevant a priori score.Results35.8% of the participants were well-nourished, 34.8% were at moderate nutritional risk and 29.4% were at high nutritional risk. Total energy intake did not differ between the groups (1,984 ± 500 kcal/day for those well-nourished, 1,995 ± 537 kcal/day for those at moderate nutritional risk and 1,934 ± 566 kcal/day for those at high nutritional risk, p = 0.140). Well-nourished older people consumed per day more portions of vegetables, fruits, legumes, poultry, sweets and fewer portions of alcohol compared to those at moderate and high risk (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, adherence to the Mediterranean diet differed significantly between the groups, i.e. those well-nourished had greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet compared to the other groups (p < 0.001).DiscussionAlthough energy intake did not differ between the groups, there were significant differences in quality of their diet, as this was depicted in specific food group intake and adherence to a healthy dietary pattern. Thus, health experts should also consider diet quality when screening malnutrition in this vulnerable age group.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Effects of Repeated Taste Exposure to the Mediterranean Diet: A 6-month Follow-up Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Bédard ◽  
Louise Corneau ◽  
Sylvie Dodin ◽  
Simone Lemieux
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Taste Exposure

Purpose: To determine whether an intervention based mainly on exposure to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), along with recommendations and tools for encouraging healthy eating, lead to different effects on dietary adherence and body weight management six months post-intervention in Canadian men and women. Methods: Thirty-eight males and 32 premenopausal females (all aged 24–53 years) were exposed to the same 4-week experimental MedDiet during which all foods were provided to participants. Participants also received some recommendations and tools to adhere to a healthy way of eating, with no other contact until the 6-month follow-up visit. Results: Compared with baseline, the Mediterranean score (MedScore) increased at the end of the 6-month follow-up (time effect P = 0.003), with no sex difference (sex-by-time interaction P = 0.97). With regard to MedScore components, sex differences were observed with males reporting changes in more dietary food groups than females. Although the intervention was not focused on body weight management, compared with baseline, BMI decreased during the intervention in both males and females; however, only females maintained the lower BMI 6 months after the intervention. Conclusions: Exposure to the MedDiet for a short duration promotes the adherence to this food pattern in both sexes and helps in the management of body weight, especially in females.

The role of Mediterranean diet in the course of subjective cognitive decline in the elderly population of Greece: results from a prospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
George S. Vlachos ◽  
Mary Yannakoulia ◽  
Costas A. Anastasiou ◽  
Mary H. Kosmidis ◽  
Efthimios Dardiotis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Preventive Strategy ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Medical Disorders ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract Very few data are available regarding the association of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) evolution over time. A cohort of 939 cognitively normal individuals reporting self-experienced, persistent cognitive decline not attributed to neurological, psychiatric or medical disorders from the Hellenic Epidemiological Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD study) was followed-up for a mean period of 3.10 years. We defined our SCD score as the number of reported SCD domains (memory, language, visuoperceptual and executive), ranging from 0 to 4. Dietary intake at baseline was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire; adherence to the MeDi pattern was evaluated through the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) that ranged from 0 to 55, with higher values indicating greater adherence to the MeDi. The mean SCD score in our cohort increased by 0.20 cognitive domains during follow-up. After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, we showed that an MDS higher by 10 points was associated with a 7% reduction in the progression of SCD within one year. In terms of food groups, every additional vegetable serving consumption per day was associated with a 2.3% reduction in SCD progression per year. Our results provide support to the notion that MeDi may have a protective role against the whole continuum of cognitive decline, starting at the first subjective complaints. This finding may strengthen the role of the MeDi as a population-wide, cost-effective preventive strategy targeting the modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline.

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