scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet and Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Neglected Role of Nutrition in the Modulation of the Endocannabinoid System

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 790
Author(s):  
Federica Armeli ◽  
Alessio Bonucci ◽  
Elisa Maggi ◽  
Alessandro Pinto ◽  
Rita Businaro
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Neuroprotective Activity ◽  
The Mediterranean

Neurodegenerative disorders are a widespread cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, characterized by neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and neuronal depletion. The broad-spectrum neuroprotective activity of the Mediterranean diet is widely documented, but it is not yet known whether its nutritional and caloric balance can induce a modulation of the endocannabinoid system. In recent decades, many studies have shown how endocannabinoid tone enhancement may be a promising new therapeutic strategy to counteract the main hallmarks of neurodegeneration. From a phylogenetic point of view, the human co-evolution between the endocannabinoid system and dietary habits could play a key role in the pro-homeostatic activity of the Mediterranean lifestyle: this adaptive balance among our ancestors has been compromised by the modern Western diet, resulting in a “clinical endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome”. This review aims to evaluate the evidence accumulated in the literature on the neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties of the Mediterranean diet related to the modulation of the endocannabinoid system, suggesting new prospects for research and clinical interventions against neurodegenerative diseases in light of a nutraceutical paradigm.

scholarly journals The role of number of meals, coffee intake, salt and type of cookware on colorectal cancer development in the context of the Mediterranean diet

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niki Kontou ◽  
Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽  
Nick Soupos ◽  
Evangelos Polychronopoulos ◽  
Athena Linos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Coffee Intake ◽  
Coffee Drinking ◽  
Dietary Behaviours ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Control Study

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the association between dietary behaviours and colorectal cancer (CRC) in the context of the Mediterranean diet.DesignCase–control study.SettingAll patients (cases) were recruited from Saint Savvas Cancer Hospital and Alexandra General Hospital in Athens, Greece. Controls were voluntarily selected from the general population and matched to cases by age group (±10 years) and sex.SubjectsTwo hundred and fifty cases with newly diagnosed CRC (mean age 63 (sd 12) years, 59·6 % males) and 250 controls matched on age and sex were studied. A standardized questionnaire assessing sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, dietary characteristics and nutritional behaviours was applied. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the aforementioned factors in addition to the MedDietScore (an index that evaluates adherence to the Mediterranean diet) on CRC development.ResultsThe higher the daily number of meals, the lower the likelihood of having CRC (OR = 0·74, 95 % CI 0·61, 0·89); coffee drinking was associated with higher likelihood of having CRC (OR = 3·27, 95 % CI 1·09, 9·8); the use of non-stick cookware was positively associated with CRC (OR = 1·57, 95 % CI 1·02, 2·4). However, these associations slightly lost their significance when adherence to the Mediterranean diet was taken into account. Moreover, a 1/75 increase in the modified-MedDietScore plus the aforementioned nutritional behaviours was associated with 13 % lower odds (95 % CI 0·83, 0·91, P < 0·001) of having CRC.ConclusionsNutritional behaviours in addition to dietary habits should be taken into account in detecting individuals prone to the development of CRC.

scholarly journals Mediterranean diet, culture and heritage: challenges for a new conception

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (9A) ◽  
pp. 1618-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Xavier Medina
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Cultural Organization ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Intangible Heritage ◽  
Mediterranean Culture ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractThe aim of the present article is to discuss the role of the Mediterranean diet as a part of Human Culture and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Until the present, Mediterranean diet has been observed as a healthy model of medical behaviour. After its proposal as a Cultural Heritage of the Humanity at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Mediterranean diet is actually being observed as a part of Mediterranean culture and starting its concept as an equivalent of Mediterranean Cultural Food System or Mediterranean Culinary System. At the candidacy of Mediterranean diet as a World Cultural Intangible Heritage to be presented at UNESCO in 2008, this new conception is making sense. A new point of view that will be capital in the future discussions about the Mediterranean diet, their challenges and their future perspectives.

scholarly journals The Mediterranean Diet, a Rich Source of Angiopreventive Compounds in Cancer

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Martínez-Poveda ◽  
José Antonio Torres-Vargas ◽  
María del Carmen Ocaña ◽  
Melissa García-Caballero ◽  
Miguel Ángel Medina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Chemopreventive Agents ◽  
Angiogenic Potential ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Interesting Approach ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Tumor Growth And Metastasis ◽  
Early Phases

Diet-based chemoprevention of cancer has emerged as an interesting approach to evade the disease or even target its early phases, reducing its incidence or slowing down tumor progression. In its basis in the essential role of angiogenesis for tumor growth and metastasis, angioprevention proposes the use of inhibitors of angiogenesis in cancer prevention. The anti-angiogenic potential exhibited by many natural compounds contained in many Mediterranean diet constituents makes this dietary pattern especially interesting as a source of chemopreventive agents, defined within the angioprevention strategy. In this review, we focus on natural bioactive compounds derived from the main foods included in the Mediterranean diet that display anti-angiogenic activity, as well as their possible use as angiopreventive agents.

scholarly journals FRI0233 IMPACT AND ADHERENCE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS ITALIAN PATIENTS: CORRELATION WITH GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS, MOOD DISTURBANCES AND QUALITY OF LIFE

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 700.2-700
Author(s):  
G. De Luca ◽  
G. Natalello ◽  
G. Abignano ◽  
C. Campochiaro ◽  
D. Temiz Karadağ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Work Impairment ◽  
Gi Symptoms ◽  
The Mediterranean

Background:Gastrointestinal involvement(GI) is a common feature of systemic sclerosis(SSc) and can be highly disabling, representing a major cause of morbidity and reduced quality of life(QoL). The impact of dietary habits on GI symptoms, mood and QoL has not been extensively evaluated.Objectives:To evaluate the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet(MD) in an Italian multicenter cohort of SSc patients, and its impact on GI symptoms and other disease features, depression, anxiety and overall QoL.Methods:Consecutive SSc(ACR/EULAR2013) patients from 4 Italian cohorts were enrolled. Dietary habits and adherence to the MD were assessed using the 14-item MEDAS and QueMD questionnaires. Presence and severity of depressive/anxious symptoms and QoL were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS) and the SSc-HAQ(S-HAQ). GI symptoms were assessed with the Reflux Disease Questionnaire(RDQ) and the UCLA SCTC GI Tract 2.0 questionnaire(USG). Associations with patients’ lifestyle, disease characteristics, and nutritional status were explored.Results:265 patients (94.7% females; age 55.8±13.6years; disease duration 9.1±7.0years; diffuse SSc 31.8%; Scl70 + 35.8%;ulcers 23.4%;ILD 29.4%;BMI 23.7±4.4 Kg/m2; obese 11.3%,overweight 23.4%,underweight 4.9%) were enrolled.Overall MD adherence was moderate(7.5±1.9) according to MEDAS and it correlated with QueMD score(4.53±1.96)(R=.371,p<0.001). MD adherence was optimal in 39 patients(14.7%), more frequently from Central-Southern Italy(p=0.036); 189 patients(71.3%) had a good and 37(14.0%) a poor MD adherence.GI symptoms were moderate/severe according to USG in 37(14.0%) patients(USG:0.41±0.40), and heartburn was the most common GI symptom(35.2%). The prevalence of significant anxiety and depression was 24.1% and 17.0%.An inverse correlation was found between MD adherence and mood disturbances at HADS(MEDAS; R=-0.181,p=0.04), work impairment(QueMD;R=-0.247,p=0.005) and reduced QoL, both for GI (constipation at USG: R=-0.133,p=0.032) and general S-HAQ items(bowel:R=-0.181,p=0.04;severity R=-0.202,p=0.01;Raynaud:R=-0.217,p<0.001;ulcers: R=-0.207,p=0.01). MD adherence directly correlated with lung function(MEDAS;R=0.181,p=0.023 for FVC and R=0.170,p=0.03 for DLCO). Patients with MD optimal adherence had lower HADS depression(p=0.04) and S-HAQ scores(HAQ,p=0.04; Raynaud,p=0.005; ulcers,p=0.02) and lower work impairment and lost work time(p=0.03). No significant correlation emerged between MD adherence and BMI, or specific symptoms. Depression and anxiety directly correlated with the severity of reported upper GI symptoms according to both scales (RDQ-GERD:R=0.261,p=0.001; USG:R=0.263,p<0.001) and general S-HAQ items (HAQ: R=0.136,p=0.032;severity R=0.233,p<0.001;bowel: R=0.135,p=0.04;breath: R=0.133,p=0.03; ulcers: R=0.132,p=0.037). Results were confirmed after exclusion of psychiatric(11.7%) and fibromyalgic(15.5%) patients.Conclusion:Unsatisfactory MD adherence is associated with a low mood, impaired QoL, work impairment, GI and vascular symptoms in Italian SSc patients. The promotion of a healthy lifestyle could positively impact on QoL and disease status of SSc patients.References:[1]Gnagnarella P, et a. NMCD 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2018.06.006[2]Jaeger VK et al. PLoS One, 2016.[3]Dinu M et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2018. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.58.[4]Khanna D, et al.Arthritis Rheum. 2009. doi: 10.1002/art.24730.Acknowledgments:GILSDisclosure of Interests:Giacomo De Luca Grant/research support from: SOBI, Speakers bureau: SOBI, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, Celgene, Gerlando Natalello: None declared, Giuseppina Abignano: None declared, Corrado Campochiaro Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, GSK, SOBI, Duygu Temiz Karadağ: None declared, Maria De Santis: None declared, Elisa Gremese Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Jannsen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, UCB, Silvia Laura Bosello Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Boehringer, Lorenzo Dagna Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, MSD, Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, SOBI, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, and SOBI

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Components of Arterial Pressure Among Older Individuals (the Multinational MEDIS Study): The Role of the Mediterranean Diet and Alcohol Consumption

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 645-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanos Tyrovolas ◽  
Josep Maria Haro ◽  
Evangelos Polychronopoulos ◽  
Anargiros Mariolis ◽  
Suzanne Piscopo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of lung cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 674-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Schulpen ◽  
Piet A. van den Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Research ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Lung Cancer Risk ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractThe evidence on a cancer-protective effect of the Mediterranean diet (MD) is still limited. Therefore, we investigated the association between MD adherence and lung cancer risk. Data were used from 120 852 participants of the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS), aged 55–69 years. Dietary habits were assessed at baseline (1986) using a validated FFQ and alternate and modified Mediterranean diet scores (aMED and mMED, respectively), including and excluding alcohol, were calculated. After 20·3 years of follow-up, 2861 lung cancer cases and 3720 subcohort members (case-cohort design) could be included in multivariable Cox regression analyses. High (6–8) v. low (0–3) aMED excluding alcohol was associated with non-significantly reduced lung cancer risks in men and women with hazard ratios of 0·91 (95 % CI 0·72, 1·15) and 0·73 (95 % CI 0·49, 1·09), respectively. aMED-containing models generally fitted better than mMED-containing models. In never smokers, a borderline significant decreasing trend in lung cancer risk was observed with increasing aMED excluding alcohol. Analyses stratified by the histological lung cancer subtypes did not identify subtypes with a particularly strong inverse relation with MD adherence. Generally, the performance of aMED and World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research dietary score variants without alcohol was comparable. In conclusion, MD adherence was non-significantly inversely associated with lung cancer risk in the NLCS. Future studies should focus on differences in associations across the sexes and histological subtypes. Furthermore, exclusion of alcohol from MD scores should be investigated more extensively, primarily with respect to a potential role of the MD in cancer prevention.

The role of the Mediterranean diet on sperm morphology in healthy men living in polluted area (EcoFoodFertility project)

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Luigi Montano ◽  
Giuseppe Porciello ◽  
Anna Crispo ◽  
Stefano Lorenzetti ◽  
Salvatore Raimondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Sperm Morphology ◽  
Polluted Area ◽  
Healthy Men ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Sustainable dietetic models in Europe: the Mediterranean diet as case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Scazzina
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Adequate Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Cost

Abstract More than five years since the global commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 690 million people lack sufficient food and economic projections suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may add an additional 83 to 132 million people to the ranks of the undernourished. Meanwhile, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted globally each year, utilizing 38% of total energy consumption in the global food system. Child and adult overweight and obesity are increasing in almost all countries, and on a global level the cost of a healthy diet is 60% higher than the cost of a nutrient adequate diet, and almost 5 times the cost of an energy sufficient diet. The Mediterranean Diet is one of the recognized models of healthy and sustainable diets. This model has proven to promote longevity and well-being, not only by considering specific food items and dietary patterns, but also taking into account the culture and the history of populations living in that region, as well as social aspects such as tradition and conviviality. Moreover, it is strongly tied to a gastronomic background that links health with enjoyment. This may be extremely important for the implementation of feasible programs for the prevention of chronic non communicable diseases. In fact, long lasting lifestyle changes are difficult to achieve and, although health motivations may lead to satisfactory dietary compliance in the short term, pleasure remains an important determinant of any dietary change that is intended to last. While keeping traditional dietary habits at European level, the main principles of the Mediterranean diet could be taken into account to identify key features that ensure both health benefits and sustainable impact on environment. Assessing the sustainability of these products can be an effective operational approach for preserving and promoting a Mediterranean-type dietary pattern in the European region.

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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