scholarly journals Phenol Biological Metabolites as Food Intake Biomarkers, a Pending Signature for a Complete Understanding of the Beneficial Effects of the Mediterranean Diet

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3051
Author(s):  
Juana I. Mosele ◽  
Maria-Jose Motilva
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Plant ◽  
Preventive Effects ◽  
Objective Tool

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has become a dietary pattern of reference due to its preventive effects against chronic diseases, especially relevant in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Establishing an objective tool to determine the degree of adherence to the MD is a pending task and deserves consideration. The central axis that distinguishes the MD from other dietary patterns is the choice and modality of food consumption. Identification of intake biomarkers of commonly consumed foods is a key strategy for estimating the degree of adherence to the MD and understanding the protective mechanisms that lead to a positive impact on health. Throughout this review we propose potential candidates to be validated as MD adherence biomarkers, with particular focus on the metabolites derived from the phenolic compounds that are associated with the consumption of typical Mediterranean plant foods. Certain phenolic metabolites are good indicators of the intake of specific foods, but others denote the intake of a wide-range of foods. For this, it is important to emphasise the need to increase the number of dietary interventions with specific foods in order to validate the biomarkers of MD adherence. Moreover, the identification and quantification of food phenolic intake biomarkers encouraging scientific research focuses on the study of the biological mechanisms in which polyphenols are involved.

scholarly journals Special Issue “Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Diseases”

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2680
Author(s):  
Emmanuella Magriplis ◽  
Michail Chourdakis
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been considered among the healthiest dietary patterns since a little over 50 years ago, Ancel Keys—as the key figure—provided evidence for the beneficial effects of the MD [...]

If we eat soy, do we keep the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet?

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1099-1108
Author(s):  
Giovanni Aulisa ◽  
Claudio Binda ◽  
Elvira Padua ◽  
Antonio Pratesi ◽  
Alfonso Bellia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Typical Food ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to evaluate if soya consumption can compromise or positively influence the effects of the Mediterranean diet (MD). Design/methodology/approach A full literature review has been conducted as part of a proposal of a new point of view on the consumption of soya and its derivatives in areas where until a few decades ago this type of food did not exist at all. Findings There does not seem to be any contraindications for soy systematic use, therefore, excluding historical-geographical reasons, soya could be included in an MD without altering the benefits associated with it. Practical implications Soya is not advised as a typical food in the MD, but promoting its use could probably contribute to increase the variety of the diet and likely consolidates the positive health benefits characteristic of MD. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this review is one of the first to evaluate soybean consumption within the MD.

scholarly journals MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND ADOLESCENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrisi Mavrovounioti ◽  
Eleni Fotiadou ◽  
Eirini Koidou ◽  
Souzana Papadopoulou ◽  
Eirini Argiriadou
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Diet Patterns ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Education School ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the adoption of Mediterranean diet in adolescents with intellectual disabilities. The sample of the study consisted of 24 adolescents (8 boys and 16 girls) with intellectual disabilities who were studying at a secondary education school, with an average age of 17.63+2.018 years. For data collection, the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED) by Serra-Majem et al. (2004) was used. KIDMED is supported by specific principles sustaining traditional healthy Mediterranean dietary patterns. KIDMED is based on a 16-item food consumption log questionnaire that can be answered either self-administered or in interview. As for the pupils with intellectual disabilities, the answers were recorded in an individual interview. For the statistical analysis the Statistical Package for Social Sciences ver. 23.0 for windows was used. Data processing showed that over the 1/3 of adolescents with intellectual disabilities (37.5%) has a very low diet quality, while the proportion of adolescents following an optimal Mediterranean diet was zero. In addition, the diet of the adolescents with intellectual disabilities in a very large proportion (62.5%) needs improvement for the adaptation of the consumption / intake to Mediterranean patterns. The results show that adolescents with intellectual disabilities do not follow the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, priority should be given to the application and implementation of health educational programs on diet in general, and more specifically on the benefits of Mediterranean diet to adolescents with intellectual disabilities, in order to adopt the Mediterranean diet patterns aiming on the beneficial effects, both directly and long-term in their adult life.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0606/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Quercetin Improves the Endocrine Function of Rat Testicular Tissue Under in Vitro Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Filip Benko ◽  
Patrik Hrnčiar ◽  
Norbert Lukáč ◽  
Róbert Kirchner ◽  
Eva Tvrdá
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Testicular Tissue ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Male Hormones ◽  
The Impact

Summary Compounds of natural origin are often used for their beneficial effects on the male endocrine system and the synthesis of steroid biomolecules in testicular tissue. One of such compounds is quercetin (QUE), which belongs to the flavonoid family and is found in a wide range of vegetables, fruits and plant products. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of QUE on the endocrine function of rat testicular fragments under in vitro conditions. Testicular fragments from adult Wistar rats (n=9), cultured in the D-MEM medium with different concentrations of QUE (namely 1, 10 and 100 µmol/L) for 24 h at 37°C (5% CO2), were used in the experiment conducted. Following culture, the medium was separated and the levels of cholesterol (CHOL) and male hormones were measured. CHOL values were quantified spectrophotometrically, whereas the concentrations of androstenedione (ANDRO), dehydropeiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone (TEST) were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial kit. The results obtained indicate that 10 µmol/L QUE significantly increased (P<0.001; P<0.05) the concentrations of all the steroid biomolecules considered (CHOL, ANDRO, DHEA and TEST) when compared to the control samples. Accordingly, our findings confirm the positive impact of QUE on the endocrine function and steroidogenesis of rat testicular tissue under in vitro conditions.

scholarly journals Interaction Effect of the Mediterranean Diet and an Obesity Genetic Risk Score on Adiposity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents: The HELENA Study

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3841
Author(s):  
Miguel Seral-Cortes ◽  
Sergio Sabroso-Lasa ◽  
Pilar De Miguel-Etayo ◽  
Marcela Gonzalez-Gross ◽  
Eva Gesteiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk Score ◽  
Interaction Effects ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Mediterranean

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are worldwide major health challenges. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a better cardiometabolic profile, but these beneficial effects may be influenced by genetic variations, modulating the predisposition to obesity or MetS. The aim was to assess whether interaction effects occur between an obesity genetic risk score (obesity-GRS) and the MD on adiposity and MetS in European adolescents. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the interaction effects of an obesity-GRS and the MD on adiposity and MetS and its components. Interaction effects between the MD on adiposity and MetS were observed in both sex groups (p < 0.05). However, those interaction effects were only expressed in a certain number of adolescents, when a limited number of risk alleles were present. Regarding adiposity, a total of 51.1% males and 98.7% females had lower body mass index (BMI) as a result of higher MD adherence. Concerning MetS, only 9.9% of males with higher MD adherence had lower MetS scores. However, the same effect was observed in 95.2% of females. In conclusion, obesity-related genotypes could modulate the relationship between MD adherence and adiposity and MetS in European adolescents; the interaction effect was higher in females than in males.

scholarly journals The Fluid Aspect of the Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: The Role of Polyphenol Content in Moderate Consumption of Wine and Olive Oil

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Ditano-Vázquez ◽  
José David Torres-Peña ◽  
Francisco Galeano-Valle ◽  
Ana Isabel Pérez-Caballero ◽  
Pablo Demelo-Rodríguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Red Wine ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Atheromatous Plaque ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wine Polyphenols ◽  
The Mediterranean

A growing interest has emerged in the beneficial effects of plant-based diets for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. The Mediterranean diet, one of the most widely evaluated dietary patterns in scientific literature, includes in its nutrients two fluid foods: olive oil, as the main source of fats, and a low-to-moderate consumption of wine, mainly red, particularly during meals. Current mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet include a reduction in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, improvement in lipid profile, insulin sensitivity and endothelial function, as well as antithrombotic properties. Most of these effects are attributable to bioactive ingredients including polyphenols, mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Polyphenols are a heterogeneous group of phytochemicals containing phenol rings. The principal classes of red wine polyphenols include flavonols (quercetin and myricetin), flavanols (catechin and epicatechin), anthocyanin and stilbenes (resveratrol). Olive oil has at least 30 phenolic compounds. Among them, the main are simple phenols (tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol), secoroids and lignans. The present narrative review focuses on phenols, part of red wine and virgin olive oil, discussing the evidence of their effects on lipids, blood pressure, atheromatous plaque and glucose metabolism.

scholarly journals Experimental Outcomes of the Mediterranean Diet: Lessons Learned from the Predimed Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dicle Kargin ◽  
Laura Tomaino ◽  
Lluís Serra-Majem
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Olive Tree ◽  
Energy Restriction ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Predimed Study

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is, culturally and historically, the nutritional pattern shared by people living in the olive-tree growing areas of the Mediterranean basin. It is of great importance for its potential preventive effect against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study, a Spanish multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT), was designed to assess the long-term effects of the MD, without any energy restriction, on the incidence of CVD in individuals at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. Since its inception, it gave a great contribution to the available literature on the issue. It is well known that, in the field of the health sciences, RCTs provide the best scientific evidence. Thus, the aim of the present review is to analyse the results of the RCTs performed within the frame of the PREDIMED study. Our findings showed that MD has beneficial effects in the primary prevention of CVDs, diabetes and in the management of metabolic syndrome.

Mediterranean Diet and Osteoarticular Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-250
Author(s):  
Eliana R. Sanpaolo ◽  
Addolorata Corrado ◽  
Francesco P. Cantatore
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Omega 6 ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Background: Besides the well-known positive effect on the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular diseases, in the latest decades growing evidence has accumulated on the beneficial effects of MD on various aspects of health outcomes. Nevertheless, data concerning the existence of a direct positive effect of MD, irrespective of its beneficial effect on body weight, in osteo-articular diseases, are still controversial. In osteo-articular diseases, a pro-inflammatory environment is highlighted, with an increased systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Objective: Our objective is to investigate the effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and osteo-articular diseases. Conclusion: Many foods included in MD, have anti-inflammatory properties, due to the presence of nutrients, such as polyunsaturated (PUFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fats. The two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, have opposing effects on the inflammatory process. Omega-6 stimulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while omega-3 fatty acids exert anti-inflammatory effects, including significant reductions in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Some studies have shown that the dietary pattern of MD consumption has an important role in the prevention and development of inflammatory arthritis. Nevertheless, the possible influence of MD on chronic osteo-articular diseases is very limited, this review updates the main experimental and clinical evidences concerning the potential beneficial effects of the Mediterranean Diet on the most diffuse osteo-articular chronic and degenerative joint disease.

scholarly journals Dietary Polyphenols, Mediterranean Diet, Prediabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review of the Evidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Guasch-Ferré ◽  
Jordi Merino ◽  
Qi Sun ◽  
Montse Fitó ◽  
Jordi Salas-Salvadó
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Prospective Studies ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Dietary Polyphenols ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Polyphenol Intake

Dietary polyphenols come mainly from plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, coffee, tea, and nuts. Polyphenols may influence glycemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) through different mechanisms, such as promoting the uptake of glucose in tissues, and therefore improving insulin sensitivity. This review aims to summarize the evidence from clinical trials and observational prospective studies linking dietary polyphenols to prediabetes and T2D, with a focus on polyphenol-rich foods characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to describe the metabolic biomarkers related to polyphenol intake and genotype-polyphenol interactions modulating the effects on T2D. Intakes of polyphenols, especially flavan-3-ols, and their food sources have demonstrated beneficial effects on insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Several prospective studies have shown inverse associations between polyphenol intake and T2D. The Mediterranean diet and its key components, olive oil, nuts, and red wine, have been inversely associated with insulin resistance and T2D. To some extent, these associations may be attributed to the high amount of polyphenols and bioactive compounds in typical foods conforming this traditional dietary pattern. Few studies have suggested that genetic predisposition can modulate the relationship between polyphenols and T2D risk. In conclusion, the intake of polyphenols may be beneficial for both insulin resistance and T2D risk.

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