title: The Mediterranean diet and nutritional adequacy: a review.
abstract: The Mediterranean dietary pattern, through a healthy profile of fat intake, low proportion of carbohydrate, low glycemic index, high content of dietary fiber, antioxidant compounds, and anti-inflammatory effects, reduces the risk of certain pathologies, such as cancer or Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Nutritional adequacy is the comparison between the nutrient requirement and the intake of a certain individual or population. In population groups, the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy can be assessed by the probability approach or using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut-point method. However, dietary patterns can also be used as they have moderate to good validity to assess adequate intakes of some nutrients. The objective of this study was to review the available evidence on the Nutritional Adequacy of the Mediterranean Diet. The inclusion of foods typical of the Mediterranean diet and greater adherence to this healthy pattern was related to a better nutrient profile, both in children and adults, with a lower prevalence of individuals showing inadequate intakes of micronutrients. Therefore, the Mediterranean diet could be used in public health nutrition policies in order to prevent micronutrient deficiencies in the most vulnerable population groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Luis Pasteur s/n, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35016, Spain. itandehuicastro@correo.ugr.es.
authors.forename: Itandehui
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castro-Quezada
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Luis Pasteur s/n, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35016, Spain. blancaRV@blanquerna.url.edu.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Román-Viñas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Luis Pasteur s/n, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35016, Spain. lserra@dcc.ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra-Majem
mesh_terms: D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005060:Europe; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status