title: Effects of Mediterranean diet in patients with recurring colds and frequent complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, traditional diets enriched with fresh plant-based foods have been gradually abandoned, increasing the consumption of animal foods and highly processed food. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a nutritional intervention with a Traditional Mediterranean Diet in patients with recurring colds (RC) and frequent inflammatory complications (IC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective before-after comparison study of 63 girls and 65 boys aged 1-5 years were included over a year in the nutritional programme "Learning to eat from the Mediterranean". We studied clinical and therapeutic variables and various anthropometric parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the studied indicators (number of catarrhal episodes CB, degree of intensity, emergency and hospital admissions) showed a positive and statistically significant evolution, evidenced from the first weeks of starting treatment, until the end of the year, after which 53.9% of patients had no CB, 25% had only one, and 16.4% had two episodes, compared to the 4.64 episodes on average in the previous year. Antibiotic use decreased by 87.4%, from 3.85±1.27 times/patient/year to 0.49±0.79 (p<0.001). Symptomatic treatment decreased by 56.7%, from 7.03±2.76 to 3.05±1.69 (p<0.001). The satisfaction of the families was very high. The Kidmed index, which assesses the quality of the Mediterranean Diet, increased from 7.8 to 10.9 points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adoption of a Traditional Mediterranean Diet could be a major contribution to the improvement of patients with recurring colds and frequent inflammatory complications.
authors.affiliation: Pediatra en Clínica infanto-juvenil "La Palma", C/Palma 17, bajo A, Ciudad Real, DP: 13001, Spain. Electronic address: altayud@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Calatayud
authors.affiliation: Nutricionista en Clínica infanto-juvenil "La Palma", C/Palma 17, bajo A, Ciudad Real, DP: 13001, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calatayud
authors.affiliation: Médico de familia en Centro de Salud n° 1 de Ciudad Real, Plaza de la Provincia 4, 3° A, Ciudad Real, DP: 13001, Spain.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.affiliation: Profesora de Toxicología, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Urb. Montepríncipe, Boadilla, DP: 28668, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Martín
authors.affiliation: Catedrático de Farmacología, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Urb. Montepríncipe, Boadilla, DP: 28668, Spain.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Alguacil
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000178:diet therapy*; D065187:Controlled Before-After Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Mediterranean diet; Nutrition assessment; Nutrition programme; Recurring colds; Traditional diet