scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet and SARS-COV-2 Infection: Is There Any Association? A Proof-of-Concept Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1721
Author(s):  
Valentina Ponzo ◽  
Marianna Pellegrini ◽  
Chiara D’Eusebio ◽  
Fabio Bioletto ◽  
Ilaria Goitre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Oil Consumption ◽  
Saturated Fats ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake ◽  
Lower Adherence

The aim of this observational study was investigating the possible correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeD) and SARS-COV-2 infection rates and severity among healthcare professionals (HCPs). An online self-administrated questionnaire (evaluating both MeD adherence and dietary habits) was filled out by HCPs working in Piedmont (Northern Italy) from 15 January to 28 February 2021. Out of the 1206 questionnaires collected, 900 were considered reliable and analyzed. Individuals who reported the SARS-COV-2 infection (n = 148) showed a significantly lower MeD score, with a lower adherence in fruit, vegetables, cereals, and olive oil consumption. In a logistic regression model, the risk of infection was inversely associated with the MeD score (OR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.81–0.97) and the consumption of cereals (OR = 0.64; 0.45–0.90). Asymptomatic individuals with SARS-COV-2 infection reported a lower intake of saturated fats than symptomatic; individuals requiring hospitalization were significantly older and reported worse dietary habits than both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. After combining all symptomatic individuals together, age (OR = 1.05; 1.01–1.09) and saturated fats intake (OR = 1.09; 1.01–1.17) were associated with the infection severity. HCPs who reported a SARS-COV-2 infection showed a significantly lower MeD score and cereal consumption. The infection severity was directly associated with higher age and saturated fat intake.

scholarly journals Impact of Mediterranean diet education versus posted leaflet on dietary habits and serum cholesterol in a high risk population for cardiovascular disease

2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda JE Bemelmans ◽  
Jan Broer ◽  
Jeanne HM de Vries ◽  
Karin Fam Hulshof ◽  
Jo F May ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Group Education ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Intensive Group ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the impact of intensive group education on the Mediterranean diet on dietary intake and serum total cholesterol after 16 and 52 weeks, compared to a posted leaflet with the Dutch nutritional guidelines, in the context of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).DesignControlled comparison study of an intervention group given intensive group education about the Mediterranean diet and a control group of hypercholesterolaemic persons given usual care by general practitioners (GPs).SettingA socioeconomically deprived area in the Netherlands with an elevated coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality ratio.SubjectsTwo hundred and sixty-six hypercholesterolaemic persons with at least two other CVD risk factors.ResultsAfter 52 weeks, the intervention group decreased total and saturated fat intake more than the control group (net differences were 1.8 en% (95%CI 0.2–3.4) and 1.1 en% (95%CI 0.4–1.9), respectively). According to the Mediterranean diet guidelines the intake of fish, fruit, poultry and bread increased in the intervention group, more than in the control group. Within the intervention group, intake of fish (+100%), poultry (+28%) and bread (+6%) was significantly increased after 1 year (P< 0.05). The intensive programme on dietary education did not significantly lower serum cholesterol level more (−3%) than the posted leaflet (−2%) (net difference 0.06 mmol l−1, 95%CI −0.10 to 0.22). Initially, the body mass index (BMI) decreased more in the intervention group, but after 1 year the intervention and control group gained weight equally (+1%).ConclusionsDespite beneficial changes in dietary habits in the intervention group compared with the control group, after 1 year BMI increased and total fat and saturated fat intake were still too high.

scholarly journals Adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia have healthier dietary and lifestyle habits compared with their non-affected relatives: the SAFEHEART study

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1433-1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Arroyo-Olivares ◽  
Rodrigo Alonso ◽  
Gracia Quintana-Navarro ◽  
Francisco Fuentes-Jiménez ◽  
Nelva Mata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Genetic Diagnosis ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
Lifestyle Habits ◽  
Saturated Fats ◽  
Diet Pattern

AbstractObjectiveHealthy lifestyle habits are the cornerstone in the management of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Nevertheless, dietary studies on FH-affected populations are scarce. The present study analyses dietary habits, adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern and physical activity in an adult population with FH and compares them with their non-affected relatives.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingData came from SAFEHEART, a nationwide study in Spain.ParticipantsIndividuals (n 3714) aged ≥18 years with a genetic diagnosis of FH (n2736) and their non-affected relatives (n 978). Food consumption was evaluated using a validated FFQ.ResultsTotal energy intake was lower in FH patients v. non-affected relatives (P<0·005). Percentage of energy from fats was also lower in the FH population (35 % in men, 36 % in women) v. those non-affected (38 % in both sexes, P<0·005), due to the lower consumption of saturated fats (12·1 % in FH patients, 13·2 % in non-affected, P<0·005). Consumption of sugars was lower in FH patients v. non-affected relatives (P<0·05). Consumption of vegetables, fish and skimmed milk was higher in the FH population (P<0·005). Patients with FH showed greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern v. non-affected relatives (P<0·005). Active smoking was lower and moderate physical activity was higher in people with FH, especially women (P<0·005).ConclusionsAdult patients with FH report healthier lifestyles than their non-affected family members. They eat a healthier diet, perform more physical activity and smoke less. However, this patient group’s consumption of saturated fats and sugars still exceeds guidelines.

scholarly journals Ecological Momentary Assessment for the Evaluation of the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in the Context of Clinical Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 511-511
Author(s):  
Anna Boronat ◽  
Joana Clivillé-Pérez ◽  
Eduard Otero ◽  
Natàlia Soldevila ◽  
Helmut Schröder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Dietary Assessment ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Oil Consumption ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Ecological Momentary

Abstract Objectives The validation of tailored dietary Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to evaluate the continuous adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) for its use in the framework of nutritional intervention clinical studies. Methods We have developed a set of dietary mobile-app EMAs to evaluate the consumption of characteristics components key in the MedDiet. The EMAs will capture the frequency of consumption of the MedDiet products during a week and extract the rate of adherence to the MedDiet. A total of 100 healthy adults were enrolled on a trial to validate the use of EMAs as a novel screener of the MedDiet adherence. Participants received on their phone four randomized questions every day for 8 weeks. The questions were semi-qualitative and enquired for their intake diet on the last hours. The validity of the EMAs is compared with two validated questionnaires: Mediterranean Diet adherence screener (MEDAS) and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), both validated for the Spanish population. The levels of certain urinary dietetic biomarkers associated with the MedDiet was measured during the study. Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol (two biomarkers of olive oil consumption) and alcohol biomarkers and free fatty acids were measured. Results A preliminary analysis of 21 subjects showed the capacity of EMAs to capture the adherence to the MedDiet, ranging in this population from 25–80% of adherence to the MedDiet recommendations. Scores obtained were correlated with the ones obtained in MEDAS, and the food frequencies captured in EMAs correlated with the frequencies reported in the FFQ at the end of the study. Individuals with higher scores in EMAs presented higher urinary levels of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol. Participants reported a change in their dietary habits following their participation in the study, suggesting an additional beneficial effect of the EMAs. Conclusions The tailored EMAs are a reliable dietary assessment tool that provides an improved MedDiet adherence scoring while reducing participant's burden and capturing an accurate and continuous representation of the habitual dietary patterns. Moreover, they can be used to reinforce nutritional intervention and its sustainability. Funding Sources Alzheimer's Association and Instituto de Salud Carlos III of Spain.

scholarly journals Influence of Dietary Habits and Mediterranean Diet Adherence on Sleep Quality during Pregnancy. The GESTAFIT Project

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3569
Author(s):  
Marta Flor-Alemany ◽  
Teresa Nestares ◽  
Inmaculada Alemany-Arrebola ◽  
Nuria Marín-Jiménez ◽  
Milkana Borges-Cosic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Red Meat ◽  
Oil Consumption ◽  
Food Pattern ◽  
Mediterranean Diet Adherence ◽  
Gestational Week ◽  
The Mediterranean

We examined the association of the dietary habits and the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence with sleep quality during pregnancy. A food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean Food Pattern were employed to assess dietary habits and MD adherence, respectively. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score (n = 150; mean age 32.9 ± 4.6 years). A higher consumption of fruits was associated with better sleep quality at the 16th gestational week (g.w.; p < 0.05). A greater olive oil consumption and a higher MD adherence were associated with better sleep quality at the 16th and 34th g.w. (all, p < 0.05). Contrarily, a higher red meat and subproducts consumption was associated with worse sleep quality at the 34th g.w. (p < 0.05). The group with the highest adherence to the MD (Tertile 3) showed better sleep quality than the group with the lowest adherence (Tertile 1) at the 16th and 34th g.w. (both, p < 0.05). A higher adherence to the MD, a greater intake of fruits and olive oil and a lower intake of red meat and subproducts were associated with better sleep quality along the pregnancy course, especially among sedentary women.

scholarly journals Dietary Saturated Fats and Health: Are the U.S. Guidelines Evidence-Based?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3305
Author(s):  
Arne Astrup ◽  
Nina Teicholz ◽  
Faidon Magkos ◽  
Dennis M. Bier ◽  
J. Thomas Brenna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Food Matrix ◽  
Saturated Fats ◽  
Dietary Guidelines For Americans ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake

The last decade has seen nearly 20 papers reviewing the totality of the data on saturated fats and cardiovascular outcomes, which, altogether, have demonstrated a lack of rigorous evidence to support continued recommendations either to limit the consumption of saturated fatty acids or to replace them with polyunsaturated fatty acids. These papers were unfortunately not considered by the process leading to the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the country’s national nutrition policy, which recently reconfirmed its recommendation to limit saturated fats to 10% or less of total energy intake, based on insufficient and inconsistent evidence. Continuation of a cap on saturated fat intake also fails to consider the important effects of the food matrix and the overall dietary pattern in which saturated fatty acids are consumed.

scholarly journals High-sensitivity c-reactive protein and total and saturated fat intake in adolescent students: a longitudinal study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Cândida de Lima Martins ◽  
Flávia Emília Leite de Lima Ferreira ◽  
Aléssio Tony Cavalcanti de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Saturated Fats ◽  
Fat Consumption ◽  
Hs Crp ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to assess the relationship between hs-CRP concentrations and total and saturated fat intake in adolescents after a year of follow-up.MethodsA longitudinal study carried out in the years 2014 and 2015 evaluated 408 adolescents from the municipal and state public schools of João Pessoa, Paraíba, between 10 and 14 years of age, who participated in the Longitudinal Study on Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, Eating Habits and Adolescent Health (LONCAAFS). Data were obtained on sociodemographic data, anthropometric nutritional status, physical activity and hs-CRP concentration. The consumption of total and saturated fats was evaluated from the 24 hour recall.ResultsThe associations between concentrations of hs-CRP and total and saturated fat intake were performed by linear regression considering panel data, individual fixed effect, balanced bank, stratified by sex and BMI. The mean values of the hs-CRP variable were significantly different between the analyzed years (p = 0.024). The percentage of total and saturated fat consumption is within the recommended level in both years, with no significant difference (p> 0.05). No statistically significant associations were found between hs-CRP and total fat consumption (β = −0.19p = 0.582) and saturated fat (β = 0.20, p = 0.282).ConclusionThe study did not present significant evidence on the relationship between the concentrations of hs-CRP and the consumption of total and saturated fats, as one year of follow-up may not have promoted evident changes in the levels of hs-CRP in adolescents.

scholarly journals Coconuts and Health: Different Chain Lengths of Saturated Fats Require Different Consideration

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Susan Hewlings
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Medium Chain ◽  
Saturated Fats ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake ◽  
Chain Fatty Acids

The diet heart hypothesis has driven nutrition recommendations and policy for decades. Recent studies have questioned the hypothesis and sparked great controversy over the assumed connection between saturated fat intake and heart disease. Recent evidence suggests that dietary patterns should be the focus of dietary recommendations, not any one food or nutrient. Furthermore, to classify foods as simply saturated fat, polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats is to ignore the many other potential nutrients and health benefits. Coconut is classified as a saturated fat and therefore listed as a food to limit to reduce heart disease risk. However, different saturated fats, medium-chain or long-chain, act differently metabolically and thus have different health effects. The medium-chain fatty acids predominate in coconut are absorbed differently and have been associated with several health benefits, including improvements in cognitive function and a more favorable lipid profile compared to longer chain fatty acids. Coconuts provide a healthful source of saturated fats and should not be considered the same as foods with longer chain saturated fats. Future recommendations should take this research into consideration. It is the purpose of this review to discuss the research regarding the connection between saturated fat intake, specifically coconut consumption, and health, while focusing on dietary patterns and lifestyle behaviors.

Dietary Fat Intake and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 869-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Ruan ◽  
Jun Tang ◽  
Xiaofei Guo ◽  
Kelei Li ◽  
Duo Li
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Dietary Fat ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Prospective Cohort Studies ◽  
Dietary Fat Intake ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake

Background: Epidemiological studies showed that dietary fat intake is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia risk, however, the association remain inconsistent. This metaanalysis aimed to systematically examine the association of dietary fat intake with AD and dementia risk. Methods: We have systematically searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library up to May 1st 2017. Prospective cohort studies were included if they reported on the association of dietary fat intake with AD and dementia risk. Multivariate-adjusted relative risks (RRs) for the highest versus lowest category were pooled by using a random-effects model. Results: A total of 8630 participants and 633 cases from four independent prospective cohort studies were included in the present meta-analysis. A higher dietary saturated fat intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of 39% and 105% for AD (RR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.94) and dementia (RR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.06, 3.98), respectively. Dose-response analysis indicated a 4 g/day increment of saturated fat intake was related to 15% higher risk of AD (RR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.31). However, there was no significant association found between dietary intake of total, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fat and AD or dementia risk. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides significant evidence of positive association between higher saturated fat intake and AD and dementia risk.

scholarly journals The Mediterranean Eating in Scotland Experience project: evaluation of an Internet-based intervention promoting the Mediterranean diet

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeliki Papadaki ◽  
Jane A. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Monounsaturated Fat ◽  
Feedback Intervention ◽  
Intention To Treat ◽  
The Mediterranean

A 6-month intervention study with a quasi-experimental design was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an Internet-based, stepwise, tailored-feedback intervention promoting four key components of the Mediterranean diet. Fifty-three (intervention group) and nineteen (control group) healthy females were recruited from the Universities of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian, Scotland, respectively. Participants in the intervention group received tailored dietary and psychosocial feedback and Internet nutrition education over a 6-month period, while participants in the control group were provided with minimal dietary feedback and general healthy-eating brochures. Internet education was provided via an innovative Mediterranean Eating Website. Dietary changes were assessed with 7 d estimated food diaries at baseline and 6 months, and data were analysed to calculate the Mediterranean Diet Score, a composite score based on the consumption of eight components of the traditional Mediterranean diet. The ‘intention-to-treat’ analyses showed that, at 6 months, participants in the intervention group had significantly increased their intake of vegetables, fruits and legumes, as well as the MUFA:saturated fatty acid ratio in their diet, and had significantly increased plasma HDL-cholesterol levels and a reduced ratio of total:HDL-cholesterol. Participants in the control group increased their intake of legumes but showed no other favourable significant changes compared with baseline. This Internet-based, tailored-feedback intervention promoting components of the Mediterranean diet holds promise in encouraging a greater consumption of plant foods, as well as increasing monounsaturated fat and decreasing saturated fat in the Scottish diet; it also shows that the Mediterranean diet can be adopted by healthy individuals in northern European countries.

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