The Association of Dietary Habits and Lifestyle Characteristics with Successful Aging among Older Greek Origin Individuals Living in France, Canada, and Greece: The Epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Alexandriani Piperidi ◽  
Alexandra Foscolou ◽  
Konstantina Kouki ◽  
Ioanna Moussikoudi-Hatterer ◽  
Anastasios Papalazarou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Successful Aging ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Mediterranean Islands

scholarly journals Midday Napping and Successful Aging in Older People Living in the Mediterranean Region: The Epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Alexandra Foscolou ◽  
Nathan M. D’Cunha ◽  
Nenad Naumovski ◽  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Loukianos Rallidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Aging Index ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Adjusted Model

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between midday napping, sleeping hours, and successful aging among 2564 older (65+ years) individuals living in the insular Mediterranean region. Anthropometric, clinical, and socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and lifestyle parameters were derived through standard procedures, while successful aging was evaluated using the validated Successful Aging Index (SAI; range 0–10). Of the 2564 participants, 74% reported midday napping. The SAI score was 2.9/10 for non-midday nappers vs. 3.5/10 for midday nappers (p = 0.001). Midday nappers were more likely to be physically active (p = 0.01) and to have higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p = 0.02) compared to non-midday nappers. In a fully adjusted model, midday nappers had 6.7% higher SAI score compared to the rest (p < 0.001), and the effect of midday napping was more prominent among males and participants 80+ years of age. Further analysis indicated a significant U-shaped trend between sleeping hours/day and SAI score (p < 0.001), with 8–9 h total of sleep/day, midday napping included, proposed as optimal in achieving the best SAI score. Midday napping seems to be a beneficial habit that should be promoted and encouraged in older people.

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

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.

The association of animal and plant protein with successful ageing: a combined analysis of MEDIS and ATTICA epidemiological studies

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Alexandra Foscolou ◽  
Elena Critselis ◽  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Christina Chrysohoou ◽  
Nenad Naumovski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Successful Aging ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Plant Protein ◽  
Successful Ageing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Animal ◽  
Combined Analysis ◽  
Protein Rich

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between the consumption of plant-based v. animal-based protein-rich diets on successful ageing, as well as to identify the optimal combination of dietary protein intake for facilitating successful ageing in people aged >50 years. Design: A combined analysis was conducted in older adults of the ATTICA and MEDIS population-based cross-sectional studies. Anthropometrical, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle parameters, dietary habits and level of protein intake were derived through standard procedures. Successful ageing was evaluated using the validated Successful Aging Index (SAI) composed of ten health-related social, lifestyle and clinical characteristics. Setting: Athens area and twenty Greek islands. Participants: A total of 3349 Greek women and men over 50 years old. Results: Participants with high consumption of plant proteins were more likely to be male, physically active, with higher daily energy intake, higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet and higher level of SAI (P < 0·001). Participants with ‘Low animal & High plant’ and ‘High animal & High plant’ protein consumption had a 6 and 7 % higher SAI score, respectively, compared with the other participants (P < 0·001). In contrast, ‘Low animal & Low plant’ and ‘High animal & Low plant’ protein intake was negatively associated with SAI as compared to the combination of all other consumption categories (P < 0·02). Conclusions: The consumption of a plant-based protein-rich diet seems to be a beneficial nutritional choice that should be promoted and encouraged to older people since it may benefit both individual’s health and prolong successful ageing.

scholarly journals The Association between Green and Black Tea Consumption on Successful Aging: A Combined Analysis of the ATTICA and MEDiterranean ISlands (MEDIS) Epidemiological Studies

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nenad Naumovski ◽  
Alexandra Foscolou ◽  
Nathan M. D’Cunha ◽  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Christina Chrysohoou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Tea ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Coffee Consumption ◽  
Black Tea ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Tea Consumption ◽  
Successful Ageing ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Combined Analysis ◽  
Green And Black Tea

Tea is one of the most-widely consumed beverages in the world with a number of different beneficial health effects, mainly ascribed to the polyphenolic content of the tea catechins. The aim of this study was to examine the consumption of green, black, or no tea, in relation to the previously validated successful ageing index (SAI; higher values “healthier” ageing) in a combined analysis of adults aged >50 years old from the ATTICA (n = 1128 adults from Athens, Greece metropolitan area) and the MEDiterranean Islands Study (MEDIS) (n = 2221 adults from various Greek island and Mani) studies. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and coffee consumption, green tea was positively associated with SAI (b ± SE: 0.225 ± 0.055, p < 0.001), while black tea was negatively associated with SAI (unstandardized b coefficient ± Standard error: −0.807 ± 0.054, p < 0.001). Green tea (vs black tea) consumption, had higher odds of a SAI of over 3.58 out of 10 (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.38–2.28). Green tea consumption was also associated with higher levels of physical activity (p < 0.001) and reduced likelihood of hypertension (p = 0.006) compared with black tea. Two possible mechanisms are that green tea possesses high levels of catechins such as (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate and l-theanine compared with black tea. Therefore, the present analysis supports both the role of green tea constituents in successful ageing, as well as its role as an important component of an overall healthy diet in adults aged 50 years and over from these two epidemiological studies.

Gene-diet interaction and plasma lipid responses to dietary intervention

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Ordovas
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Dietary Pufa ◽  
Increased Risk

Strategies for disease prevention can have a major impact on people's health. However, major gaps exist in our knowledge with regard to nutritional adequacy, nutrient-disease interactions, nutrient-gene interactions, and effective strategies for implementation of dietary recommendations which have the potential to decrease the disease burden and to contribute to successful aging of the population. Coronary heart disease is one of the major causes of mortality in the world. We have sound evidence that high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Lipoprotein concentrations are associated with environmental variables such as diet and lifestyle, but genetics also play a significant role. We have examined polymorphisms at candidate loci to determine their usefulness as markers for dietary responses. A G/A polymorphism 75 bp upstream from the gene encoding apolipoprotein AI (APOA1) has been described in ~ 30% of the population. Our studies show that this polymorphism is associated with variability in the HDL-C response to dietary fat, specifically to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the diet. Carriers of the A allele respond to increases in dietary PUFA with elevations in HDL-C levels, probably due to altered interactions of transcription factors with the mutated promoter. Therefore carriers of the A allele can potentially decrease their atherogenic risk by consuming high-PUFA diets. Likewise, we have examined the interaction between other dietary habits, such as alcohol drinking, and variability at the APOE locus, and have demonstrated that the classical associations between APOE polymorphism and LDL-C levels are observed primarily in those subjects who consume alcohol. Moreover, we have found a subgroup of the population, APOE4 carriers, for whom drinking alcohol may exert detrimental effects on lipid metabolism. This knowledge will contribute towards the development of more effective personalized dietary recommendations.

Successful aging and lifestyle comparison of Greeks living in Greece and abroad: the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

2021 ◽  
pp. 104523
Author(s):  
Anastasia Papadimitriou ◽  
Alexandra Foscolou ◽  
Catherine Itsiopoulos ◽  
Antonia Thodis ◽  
Antigone Kouris-Blazos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Successful Aging ◽  
Mediterranean Islands

scholarly journals Comparative study on successful aging between the elderly inhabitants of Mani and those living on the Mediterranean islands: The MEDIS study

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. e61-e62
Author(s):  
Alexandra Foscolou ◽  
Demosthenes Panagiotakos ◽  
Anargiros Mariolis ◽  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Nikos Tsakountakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
The Mediterranean

Are Current Dietary Habits in Mediterranean Islands a Reflection of the Past? Results from the MEDIS Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Tourlouki ◽  
Antonia-Leda Matalas ◽  
Vassiliki Bountziouka ◽  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Akis Zeimbekis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
The Past

scholarly journals Lessons from Studies in Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living in Mediterranean Islands: The Role of Dietary Habits and Nutrition Services

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Evangelos Polychronopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Mediterranean Islands ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

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.

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