Back to the future: the Mediterranean diet paradigm.
The Mediterranean diet was introduced to the scientific community by the classic Seven Countries study. Since then data on the association between this diet and cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases have been accumulating. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of olive oil, plant products, fish and seafood; a low intake of dairies, meat and meat products; and a moderate ethanol intake. The Mediterranean diet has been operationalized through various computational scores (e.g. the Mediterranean diet score for adults and the KIDMED index for children) which are all based on the dietary components that capture its essence. Next to evidence generated through both observational studies and intervention trials on the inverse association between Mediterranean diet and several risk factors, inflammatory markers and mortality or incidence of disease, there is increasing evidence that Mediterranean populations are abandoning their traditional eating habits. Publications presenting changes over time in the diet of populations participating in the Seven Countries Study point towards an increase in the intake of processed foods and saturated fat and a decrease in the intake of plant foods and monounsaturated fatty acids. Findings are alarming, particularly in relation to younger generations. Studies among children and adolescents in the Mediterranean region clearly indicate that the largest proportions of these populations poorly adhere to their traditional diet. Mediterraneans have clearly not been the major benefactors in the research on the effects of the Mediterranean lifestyle and younger populations in the regions are already following the wrong path.
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str., Athens 11527, Greece. Electronic address: anaska@nut.uoa.gr.
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Naska
Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece.
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Trichopoulou
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
D005227:Fatty Acids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils
Coronary heart disease; Life style; Mediterranean diet