Level of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Among Elderly Individuals Living in Mediterranean Islands: Nutritional Report from the Medis Study

Background. Islands in the Mediterranean basin share particular habits and traditions and greater life expectancy than other European regions. In this paper, particular interest has been given to the effect of the Mediterranean diet, as well as nutritional services on CVD risk, on Mediterranean islands.Methods. Published results from observational studies were retrieved from electronic databases (Pubmed and Scopus) and summarized.Results. Prevalence of CVD risk factors is increased. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was moderate, even among the elderly participants. Furthermore, the presence of a dietician was associated with higher adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and consequently lowers CVD risk.Conclusion. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is reduced, while the prevalence of CVD risk factors is increasing at alarming rates. Public health nutrition policy has the opportunity to improve the health and quality of life of people living in isolated insular areas of the Mediterranean basin.

Download Full-text

Socio-economic status, place of residence and dietary habits among the elderly: the Mediterranean islands study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980010000479 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1614-1621 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Alexia Katsarou ◽

Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽

Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽

Akis Zeimbekis ◽

Nikos Tsakountakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Economic Status ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Financial Status ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

The Mediterranean

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether the socio-economic status (SES) of elderly eastern Mediterranean islanders is associated with their dietary habits, particularly with adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet.DesignCross-sectional.SettingAdherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the MedDietScore (range: 0–55), whereas SES was estimated using education and financial status.SubjectsDuring 2005–2007, 300 men and women from Cyprus, 100 from Samothraki, 142 from Mitilini, 114 from Kefalonia, 131 from Crete, 150 from Lemnos, 150 from Corfu and 103 from Zakynthos (aged 65–100 years), free of known chronic diseases, participated in the survey.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed that belonging to the highest SES was associated with a higher MedDietScore (P< 0·01), after adjusting for potential sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary and clinical confounders. A significant positive association was also found between MedDietScore and years of school (P= 0·004), as well as financial status (P= 0·001).ConclusionsOlder Greek people of higher SES seem to follow a relatively healthier diet. Both education and income seem to play a role in this issue. Thus, public health policy makers should focus on people with low SES in order to improve their quality of diet and, consequently, their health status.

Download Full-text

Description of Lifestyle, Including Social Life, Diet and Physical Activity, of People ≥90 years Living in Ikaria, a Longevity Blue Zone

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126602 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6602

Author(s):

Romain Legrand ◽

Gilles Nuemi ◽

Michel Poulain ◽

Patrick Manckoundia

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Social Life ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Impact ◽

Blue Zone

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to describe the lifestyle of people ≥90 years, living in Evdilos or Raches, two municipalities of the Greek island of Ikaria, classified a longevity blue zone. The 71 participants were interviewed and underwent the Mediterranean Islands study food frequency questionnaire (MEDIS-FFQ) and the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The frequency of social contacts was daily for 77.9% of participants, weekly for 16.1%, and monthly for 5.9%. Most participants (90.0%) believed in God, and 81.4% took part in religious events. A total of 62.0% attended Panigiria festivals. Access to primary health care was considered difficult in the past for 66.2% of participants, while 22.1% felt that it remained difficult at the time of the survey. The level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was 62.7% (61.6% in women and 64.0% in men). Physical activity levels were moderate or high for 71.8% of participants (59.5% of women and 85.3% of men). In conclusion, the participants had a very high level of family solidarity, social interaction and physical activity. The results concerning the Mediterranean diet are less convincing. It would be interesting to study the impact of these factors on the longevity of the oldest old aged people living in Ikaria.

Download Full-text

THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SMOKING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COFFEE DRINKING AND BODY WEIGHT IN ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS: THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLANDS STUDY

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ◽

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02893.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 1208-1210 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mary Yannakoulia ◽

Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽

Vassiliki Bountziouka ◽

Natassa Papairakleous ◽

Akis Zeimbekis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Elderly Individuals ◽

Coffee Drinking ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Successful aging in Greeks living in Greece and abroad: the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

Nutrition and Health ◽

10.1177/02601060211072363 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 026010602110723

Author(s):

Anastasia Papadimitriou ◽

Alexandra Foscolou ◽

Catherine Itsiopoulos ◽

Antonia Thodis ◽

Antigone Kouris-Blazos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Aging Index ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Vegetables And Fruits ◽

Diet Score

Background: Whether older immigrant populations from the Mediterranean region, continue to follow the MD long after they immigrated is not known. Aim: Compare adherence to the MD and successful aging levels between Greeks living in Greece (GG) and Greeks living abroad (GA). Methods: Anthropometrical, clinical, psychological, sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle parameters were assessed in a cross-sectional manner in a sample of 252 GG and 252 GA. Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore range 0-55) was used to assess adherence to the MD. Successful aging was evaluated with the validated successful aging index (SAI range 0-10). Results: GA presented higher adherence to MD (p < 0.001); they were consuming significantly more cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruits compared to GG. GG consumed significantly more dairy (3.8 ± 2.9 vs. 1.9 ± 2.2, p < 0.001) and potatoes (2.4 ± 1.6 vs. 1.9 ± 1.5, p < 0.001) compared to GA. Meat ( p = 0.27), poultry ( p = 0.72), fish ( p = 0.68), olive oil ( p = 0.16) and alcohol consumption ( p = 0.05) were comparable between the two groups (all p’s > 0.05). MedDietScore was positively associated with SAI among both groups after adjusting for possible confounders (0.041 ± 0.014, p = 0.003 GG and 0.153 ± 0.035, p < 0.001 GA). Also, legumes, cereals, fruits and vegetables were found to be beneficial for successful aging. Conclusion: Adherence to the MD is associated with higher levels of successful aging among people of the same genetic background living in different environments. However, traditional dietary habits are gradually abandoned in their native countries, when, at the same time, are considered cultural heritage and preserved accordingly among immigrants.

Download Full-text

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Maltese Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Sarah Cuschieri ◽

Massimo Libra

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Food Sources ◽

Food Groups ◽

Mediterranean Islands ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Diet Adherence ◽

Adherence Score ◽

Mediterranean Diet Adherence ◽

The Mediterranean

Background: Populations living in Mediterranean islands are experiencing a nutrition transition process from traditional to Westernized dietary patterns. No information on this matter regarding individuals living in Malta have been published to date. The aim of this study was to assess the level of adherence of the Maltese people to the Mediterranean diet and which factors were associated with it. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in the island of Malta between 2014 and 2016. A literature-based Mediterranean diet adherence score was used to assess the level of adherence to the dietary pattern. Results: Out of 3947 adults, the overall Mediterranean diet adherence score mean was 7.19 (SD 1.91): being female, non-smoker, and having older age was associated with higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Less clear pattern of association was found for educational and occupational status, for which medium educational level and a high occupational level were associated with lower adherence to Mediterranean diet. Higher adherence was finally associated with consumption of healthier food groups (more rice and dark bread and less pasta and white bread; more all plant-food groups and fish, less animal-food sources, including fast foods; more light cheeses and yogurt were more frequently consumed among higher adherent individuals in spite of regular ones). Conclusions: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Malta is lower than in those of populations living in companion Mediterranean islands. Given the lack of data on this topic, further studies should be conducted among the Maltese people and public health nutrition interventions should be planned to improve current eating habits toward more traditional dietary patterns.

Download Full-text

Homocysteine Levels Show Significant Differences among Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index Variables Compared to Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000237 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 85 (3-4) ◽

pp. 202-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ivona Višekruna ◽

Ivana Rumbak ◽

Ivana Rumora Samarin ◽

Irena Keser ◽

Jasmina Ranilović

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Poor Diet ◽

The Mediterranean

Abstract. Results of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown that subjects following the Mediterranean diet had lower inflammatory markers such as homocysteine (Hcy). Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess female diet quality with the Mediterranean diet quality index (MDQI) and to determine the correlation between MDQI, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels in the blood. The study participants were 237 apparently healthy women (96 of reproductive age and 141 postmenopausal) between 25 and 93 years. For each participant, 24-hour dietary recalls for 3 days were collected, MDQI was calculated, and plasma Hcy, serum and erythrocyte folate and vitamin B12 levels were analysed. Total MDQI ranged from 8 to 10 points, which represented a medium-poor diet for the subjects. The strength of correlation using biomarkers, regardless of group type, age, gender and other measured parameters, was ranked from best (0.11) to worst (0.52) for olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables, grains, and meat, in this order. Hcy levels showed the best response among all markers across all groups and food types. Our study shows significant differences between variables of the MDQI and Hcy levels compared to levels of folate and vitamin B12 in participants with medium-poor diet quality, as evaluated according to MDQI scores.

Download Full-text