title: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet by the Greek and Cypriot population: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The traditional Mediterranean diet is defined as the dietary pattern in the countries of the Mediterranean basin between the 1950s and 1960s, and it is now widely accepted that has a beneficial effect on health. A debate exists from empirical and research data if the traditional Mediterranean diet remains the main dietary pattern of the region or if it has changed overtime.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review addresses whether the people of Cyprus and Greece still follow the traditional Mediterranean diet or whether the diet has become more 'Westernised'.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEDLINE database was searched using relevant free terms and independently reviewed by two authors. In addition, all reference lists of identified studies were hand-searched to identify additional, relevant studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The review resulted in 18 research papers that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and represented 15 independent studies. The main outcome was consistent between studies and indicated moderate adherence of the Greek, and (probably) of the Cypriot, population to the Mediterranean diet. The majority of studies found no statistically significant differences by gender. There was an observed inter-study lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet by the younger population. Few studies addressed intra-study variations by age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review shows that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is moderate in Greece (and probably also in Cyprus).This suggests a continuing transition from dietary patterns in the 50 s-60 s towards a more Westernized diet.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK 2 KMED Nutrition & Dietetics Centre, Limassol, Cyprus alexdiet@kmed.com.cy.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
authors.forename: Josie M M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: 2 KMED Nutrition & Dietetics Centre, Limassol, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Economides
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust & University Teaching Hospital, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans