Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: An Update of Research Over the Last 5 Years
Abstract
The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has been reported to be protective against the occurrence of several diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that the MedDiet could counter diseases associated with chronic inflammation, including metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, obesity, pulmonary diseases, and cognition disorders. Adoption of a MedDiet was associated with beneficial effects on the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant cellular and circulating biomarkers as well as with regulation of gene polymorphisms involved in the atherosclerotic process. The MedDiet has been considered for the prevention of cardiovascular and other chronic degenerative diseases focusing on the impact of a holistic dietary approach rather than on single nutrients. Epidemiological dietary scores measuring adherence to a MedDiet have been developed. This narrative review considers the results of up-to-date clinical studies (with a focus on the last 5 years) that evaluated the effectiveness of the MedDiet in reducing the prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases.
Get full access to this article
View all access and purchase options for this article.
References
1. Bhupathiraju SN, Tucker KL. Coronary heart disease prevention: nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns. Clin Chim Acta. 2011;412(17-18):1493–1514.
2. Eckel RH, Jakicic JM, Ard JD, et al. 2013 AHA/ACC Guideline on lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk: a report of the American college of cardiology/American heart association task force on practice guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63 (25):2889–2934.
3. Executive summary: standards of medical care in diabetes -2014. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(suppl 1):56–57.
4. Nishida C, Uauy R, Kumanyika S, Shetty P. The joint WHO FAO expert consultation on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases: process, product and policy implications. Public Health Nutr. 2004;7(1A):245–250.
5. Sofi F, Macchi C, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Mediterranean diet and health. Biofactors. 2013;39(4):335–342.
6. Sofi F. The Mediterranean diet revisited: evidence of its effectiveness grows. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2009;24(5):442–446.
7. Sherzai A, Heim LT, Boothby C, Sherzai AD. Stroke, food groups, and dietary patterns: a systematic review. Nutr Rev. 2012;70(8):423–435.
8. Panagiotakos DB, Pitsavos C, Arvaniti F, Stefanadis C. Adherence to the Mediterranean food pattern predicts the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity, among healthy adults; the accuracy of the MedDietScore. Prev Med. 2007;44(4):335–340.
9. Anna Bach, Serra-Majem L, Carrasco JL, et al. The use of indexes evaluating the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in epidemiological studies: a review. Public Health Nutr. 2006;9(1A):132–146.
10. Baldini M, Pasqui F, Bordoni A, Maranesi M. Is the Mediterranean lifestyle still a reality? Evaluation of food consumption and energy expenditure in Italian and Spanish university students. Public Health Nutr. 2009;12(2):148–155.
11. Tsakiraki M, Grammatikopoulou MG, Stylianou C, Tsigga M. Nutrition transition and health status of Cretan women: evidence from two generations. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(5):793–800.
12. Vardavas CI, Linardakis MK, Hatzis CM, Saris WH, Kafatos AG. Cardiovascular disease risk factors and dietary habits of farmers from Crete 45 years after the first description of the Mediterranean diet. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2010;17(4):440–446.
13. Tourlouki E, Matalas AL, Bountziouka V, et al. Are current dietary habits in Mediterranean Islands a reflection of the past? Results from the MediS study. Ecol Food Nutr. 2013;52(5):371–386.
14. Riccioni G, Bucciarelli T, Mancini B, Di Ilio C, Capra V, D'Orazio N. The role of the antioxidant vitamin supplementation in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2007;16(1):25–32.
15. Katsiki N, Manes C. Is there a role for supplemented antioxidants in the prevention of atherosclerosis? Clin Nutr. 2009;28(1):3–9.
16. Freedland SJ, Aronson WJ. Words of wisdom. Re: Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or low-fat diet. Shai I, Schwarzfuchs D, Henkin Y, Shahar DR, Witkow S, Greenberg I, Golan R, Fraser D, Bolotin A, Vardi H, Tangi-Rozental O, Zuk-Ramot R, Sarusi B, Brickner D, Schwartz Z, Sheiner E, Marko R, Katorza E, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Blüher M, Stumvoll M, Stampfer MJ. Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Group. N Engl J Med 2008;359:229-41. Eur Urol. 2009;55(1):249–250.
17. Milà-Villarroel R, Bach-Faig A, Puig J, et al. Comparison and evaluation of the reliability of indexes of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(12A):2338–2345.
18. Behrens G, Fischer B, Kohler S, Park Y, Hollenbeck AR, Leitzmann MF. Healthy lifestyle behaviours and decreased risk of mortality in a large prospective study of U.S women and men. Eur J Epidemiol. 2013;28(5):361–372.
19. Feart C, Alles B, Merle B, Samieri C, Barberger-Gateau P. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and energy, macro-, and micronutrient intakes in older persons. J Physiol Biochem. 2012;68(4):691–700.
20. Hu EA, Toledo E, Diez-Espino J, et al. Lifestyles and risk factors associated with adherence to the mediterranean diet: a baseline assessment of the PREDIMED trial. PLoS One. 2013;8 (4):e60166.
21. Trichopoulou A, Bamia C, Trichopoulos D. Anatomy of health effects of Mediterranean diet: Greek EPIC prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2009;338:b2337.
22. Dilis V, Katsoulis M, Lagiou P, Trichopoulos D, Naska A, Trichopoulou A. Mediterranean diet and CHD: the Greek European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition cohort. Br J Nutr. 2012;108(4):699–709.
23. Li WQ, Park Y, Wu JW, et al. Index-based dietary patterns and risk of head and neck cancer in a large prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;99(3):559–566.
24. Masala G, Assedi M, Bendinelli B, et al. Fruit and vegetables consumption and breast cancer risk: the EPIC Italy study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012;132(3):1127–1136.
25. Azzini E, Polito A, Fumagalli A, et al. Mediterranean diet effect: an Italian picture. Nutr J. 2011;10:125.
26. Jezierska-Drutel A, Rosenzweig SA, Neumann CA. Role of oxidative stress and the microenvironment in breast cancer development and progression. Adv Cancer Res. 2013;119:107–125.
27. Terlizzi M, Casolaro V, Pinto A, Sorrentino R. Inflammasome: cancer's friend or foe?. Pharmacol Ther. 2014;143 (1):24–33.
28. Couto E, Boffetta P, Lagiou P, et al. Mediterranean dietary pattern and cancer risk in the EPIC cohort. Br J Cancer. 2011;104(9):1493–1499.
29. Escrich E, Moral R, Solanas M. Olive oil, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, and breast cancer. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(12A):2323–2332.
30. Samoli E, Lagiou A, Nikolopoulos E, et al. Mediterranean diet and upper aerodigestive tract cancer: the Greek segment of the alcohol-related cancers and genetic susceptibility in Europe study. Br J Nutr. 2010;104(9):1369–1374.
31. Lagiou P, Talamini R, Samoli E, et al. Diet and upper-aerodigestive tract cancer in Europe: the ARCAGE study. Int J Cancer. 2009;124(11):2671–2676.
32. Ferrís-Tortajada J, Berbel-Tornero O, García-Castell J, Ortega-García JA, López-Andreu JA. Dietetic factors associated with prostate cancer: protective effects of Mediterranean diet. Actas Urol Esp. 2012;36(4):239–245.
33. Silver HJ, Kang H, Keil CD, et al. Consuming a balanced high fat diet for 16 weeks improves body composition, inflammation and vascular function parameters in obese premenopausal women. Metabolism. 2014;63(4):562–573.
34. Bergouignan A, Momken I, Schoeller DA, Simon C, Blanc S. Metabolic fate of saturated and monounsaturated dietary fats: the Mediterranean diet revisited from epidemiological evidence to cellular mechanisms. Prog Lipid Res. 2009;48(3-4):128–147.
35. Caracciolo B, Xu W, Collins S, Fratiglioni L. Cognitive decline, dietary factors and gut-brain interactions. Mech Ageing Dev. 2014;136-137:59–69.
36. Solfrizzi V, Frisardi V, Seripa D, et al. Mediterranean diet in predementia and dementia syndromes. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2011;8(5):520–542.
37. Psaltopoulou T, Sergentanis TN, Panagiotakos DB, Sergentanis IN, Kosti R, Scarmeas N. Mediterranean diet and stroke, cognitive impairment, depression: a meta-analysis. Ann Neurol. 2013;74(4):580–591.
38. Martínez-Lapiscina EH, Clavero P, Toledo E, et al. Mediterranean diet improves cognition: the PREDIMED -NAVARRA randomised trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013;84(12):1318–1325.
39. Hu N, Yu JT, Tan L, Wang YL, Sun L, Tan L. Nutrition and the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:524820.
40. Milaneschi Y, Bandinelli S, Corsi AM, et al. Mediterranean diet and mobility decline in older persons. Exp Gerontol. 2011;46(4):303–308.
41. St-Laurent-Thibault C, Arseneault M, Longpré F, Ramassamy C. Tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, two main components of olive oil, protect N2a cells against amyloid-β-induced toxicity. Involvement of the NF-κB signaling. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2011;8(5):543–551.
42. Allès B, Samieri C, Féart C, Jutand MA, Laurin D, Barberger-Gateau P. Dietary patterns: a novel approach to examine the link between nutrition and cognitive function in older individuals. Nutr Res Rev. 2012;25(2):207–222.
43. Vassallo N, Scerri C. Mediterranean diet and dementia of the Alzheimer type. Curr Aging Sci. 2013;6(2):150–162.
44. Barros R, Moreira A, Fonseca J, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and fresh fruit intake are associated with improved asthma control. Allergy. 2008;63(7):917–923.
45. Garcia-Marcos L, Castro-Rodriguez JA, Weinmayr G, Panagiotakos DB, Priftis KN, Nagel G. Influence of Mediterranean diet on asthma in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2013;24(4):330–338.
46. Papandreou C, Schiza SE, Bouloukaki I, et al. Effect of Mediterranean diet versus prudent diet combined with physical activity on OSAS: a randomised trial. Eur Respir J. 2012;39(6):1398–1404.
47. Vardavas CI, Flouris AD, Tsatsakis A, Kafatos AG, Saris WH. Does adherence to the Mediterranean diet have a protective effect against active and passive smoking? Public Health. 2011;125(3):121–128.
48. Chatzi L, Mendez M, Garcia R, et al. Mediterranean diet adherence during pregnancy and fetal growth: INMA (Spain) and RHEA (Greece) mother-child cohort studies. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(1):135–145.
49. Vernaglione L. The Mediterranean diet: a matter of history, tradition, culture and health. J Nephrol. 2009;22(suppl 14):149–158.
50. Chrysochoou C, Panagiotakos DB, Pitsavos C, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with renal function among healthy adults: the ATTICA study. J Ren Nutr. 2010;20(3):176–184.
51. Díaz-López A, Bulló M, Martínez-González MÁ, et al. Effects of Mediterranean diets on kidney function: a report from the PREDIMED trial. Am J Kidney Dis. 2012;60(3):380–389.
52. Mazaraki A, Tsioufis C, Dimitriadis K, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and albuminuria levels in Greek adolescents: data from the Leontio Lyceum ALbuminuria (3L study). Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011;65(2):219–225.
53. Ben– Avraham S, Harman-Boehm I, Schwarzfuchs D, Shai I. Dietary strategies for patients with type 2 diabetes in the era of multi-approaches; review and results from the dietary intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT). Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2009;86(suppl 1):41–48.
54. Razquin C, Martinez JA, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Fernández-Crehuet J, Santos JM, Marti A. A Mediterranean diet rich in virgin olive oil may reverse the effects of the -174G/C IL6 gene variant on 3-year body weight change. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010;54(suppl 1):75–82.
55. Romaguera D, Norat T, Mouw T, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower abdominal adiposity in European men and women. J Nutr. 2009;139(9):1728–1737.
56. Funtikova AN, Benítez-Arciniega AA, Gomez SF, Fitó M, Elosua R, Schröder H. Mediterranean diet impact on changes in abdominal fat and 10-year incidence of abdominal obesity in a Spanish population. Br J Nutr. 2014;111(8):1481–1487.
57. Athyros VG, Tziomalos K, Karagiannis A, Anagnostis P, Mikhailidis PDP. Should adipokines be considered in the choice of the treatment of obesity-related health problems? Curr Drug Targets. 2010;11(1):122–135.
58. Anagnostis P, Athyros VG, Kita M, Karagiannis A. Is there any association between adiponectin gene polymorphisms and cardiovascular disease? Angiology. 2013;64(4):253–256.
59. Razquin C, Martínez JA, Martínez-González MA, Salas-Salvadó J, Estruch R, Marti A. A 3-year Mediterranean-style dietary intervention may modulate the association between adiponectin gene variants and body weight change. Eur J Nutr. 2010;49(5):311–319.
60. Tognon G, Hebestreit A, Lanfer A, et al. Mediterranean diet, overweight and body composition in children from eight European countries: Cross-sectional and prospective results from the IDEFICS study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014;24(2):205–213.
61. Kastorini CM, Milionis HJ, Esposito K, Giugliano D, Goudevenos JA, Panagiotakos DB. The effect of Mediterranean diet on metabolic syndrome and its components: a meta-analysis of 50 studies and 534,906 individuals. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57(11):1299–1313.
62. Esposito K, Maiorino MI, Ceriello A, Giugliano D. Prevention and control of type 2 diabetes by Mediterranean diet: a systematic review. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010;89(2):97–102.
63. Esposito K, Maiorino MI, Ciotola M, et al. Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on the need for antihyperglycemic drug therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(5):306–314.
64. Lasa A, Miranda J, Bulló M, et al. Comparative effect of two Mediterranean diets versus a low-fat diet on glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014;68 (7):767–772.
65. Itsiopoulos C, Brazionis L, Kaimakamis M, et al. Can the Mediterranean diet ower HbA1c in type 2 diabetes? Results from a randomized cross-over study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011;21(9):740–747.
66. Rossi M, Turati F, Lagiou P, et al. Mediterranean diet and glycaemic load in relation to incidence of type 2 diabetes: results from the Greek cohort of the population-based European prospective investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC). Diabetologia. 2013;56(11):2405–2413.
67. Mosharraf S, Sharifzadeh G, Darvishzadeh Boroujeni P, Rouhi Boroujeni H. Impact of the components of Mediterranean nutrition regimen on long-term prognosis of diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. ARYA Atheroscler. 2013;9(6):337–342.
68. Pounis GD, Tyrovolas S, Antonopoulou M, et al. Long-term animal-protein consumption is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes among the elderly: the Mediterranean Islands (MEDIS) study. Diabetes Metab. 2010;36(6 pt 1):484–490.
69. Dominguez LJ, Bes-Rastrollo M, de la Fuente-Arrillaga C, et al. Similar prediction of total mortality, diabetes incidence and cardiovascular events using relative-and absolute component Mediterranean diet score: the SUN cohort. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013;23(5):451–458.
70. Athyros VG, Tziomalos K, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP. Preventing Type 2 diabetes mellitus: room for residual risk reduction after lifestyle changes. Curr Pharm Des. 2010;16(34):3939–3947.
71. Karamanos B, Thanopoulou A, Anastasiou E, et al. Relation of the Mediterranean diet with the incidence of gestational diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014;68(1):8–13.
72. Babio N, Bullo M, Basora J, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009;19(8):563–570.
73. Grosso G, Mistretta A, Marventano S, et al. Beneficial effects of the mediterranean diet on metabolic syndrome. Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20 (31):5039–5044.
74. Esposito K, Kastorini CM, Panagiotakos DB, Giugliano D. Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome: an updated systematic review. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2013;14(3):255–263.
75. Kesse-Guyot E, Ahluwalia N, Lassale C, Hercberg S, Fezeu L, Lairon D. Adherence to Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome: a 6-year prospective study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013;23(7):677–683.
76. Viscogliosi G, Cipriani E, Liguori ML, et al. Mediterranean dietary pattern adherence: associations with prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, and related microinflammation. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2013;11(3):210–216.
77. Kostapanos MS, Florentin M, Elisaf MS, Mikhailidis DP. Hemostatic factors and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2014;11(6):880–905.
78. Cadario F, Prodam F, Pasqualicchio S, et al. Lipid profile and nutritional intake in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes improve after a structured dietician training to a Mediterranean-style diet. J Endocrinol Invest. 2012;35(2):160–168.
79. Richard C, Couture P, Desroches S, et al. Effect of the Mediterranean diet with and without weight loss on surrogate markers of cholesterol homeostasis in men with the metabolic syndrome. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(5):705–711.
80. Defoort C, Vincent-Baudry S, Lairon D. Effects of 3-month Mediterranean-type diet on postprandial TAG and apolipoprotein B48 in the Medi-RIVAGE cohort. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(12A):2302–2308.
81. Martinez -Gonzalez MA, Martin-Calvo N. The major European dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2013;14(3):265–271.
82. Perez– Martinez P, Garcia– Rios A, Delgado– Lista J, Perez– Limenez F, Lopez– Miranda J. Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil and obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Curr Pharm Des. 2011;17(8):769–777.
83. Salas-Salvadó J, Bulo M, Estruch R, et al. Prevention of diabetes with Mediterranean diets: a subgroup analysis of a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(1):1–10.
84. Sahay RD, Couch SC, Missoni S, et al. Dietary patterns in adults from an Adriatic Island of Croatia and their associations with metabolic syndrome and its components. Coll Antropol. 2013;37(2):335–342.
85. Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, et al. Executive summary: heart disease and stroke statistics--2013 update: a report from the American heart association. Circulation. 2013;127(1):143–152.
86. Pérez-López FR, Chedraui P, Haya J, Cuadros JL. Effects of the Mediterranean diet on longetivity and age-related morbid conditions. Maturitas. 2009;64(2):67–79.
87. Martinez-Gonzalez MAC, Nunez-Cordoba JM, et al. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of developing diabetes: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2008;336(7657):1348–1351.
88. Sanchez-Tainta A, Estruch R, Bulló M, et al. Adherence to a Mediterranean type diet and reduced prevalence of clustered cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of 3204 high-risk patients. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2008;15(5):589–593.
89. Athyros VG, Kakafika AI, Papageorgiou AA, et al. Effect of a plant stanol ester-containing spread, placebo spread, or Mediterranean diet on estimated cardiovascular risk and lipid, inflammatory and haemostatic factors. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011;21(3):213–221.
90. Nunez-Cordoba JM, Valencia-Serrano F, Toledo E, Toledo E, Alonso A, Martínez-González MA. The Mediterranean diet and incidence of hypertension. The seguimiento universidad de navarra (SUN) study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009;169(3):339–346.
91. Fernadez JM, Rosado-Álvarez D, Da Silva Grigoletto ME, et al. Moderate to high intensity training and a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet enhance endothelial progenitor cells and fitness in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Clin Scie (Lond). 2012;123(6):361–373.
92. Mente A, de Koning L, Shannon HS, Anand SS. A systematic review of the evidence supporting a causal link between dietary factors and coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(7):659–669.
93. Fung TT, Rexrode KM, Mantzoros CS, Manson JE, Willett WC, Hu FB. Mediterranean diet and incidence of and mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke in women. Circulation. 2009;119(8):1093–1100.
94. Buckland G, González CA, Agudo A, et al. Adherence to the mediterranean diet and risk of coronary heart disease in the Spanish EPIC cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009;170(12):1518–1529.
95. Hoevenaar-Blom MP, Nooyens AC, Kromhout D, et al. Mediterranean style diet and 12-year incidence of cardiovascular diseases: the EPIC-NL cohort study. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45458.
96. Misirli G, Benetou V, Lagiou P, Bamia C, Trichopoulos D, Trichopoulou A. Relation of the traditional Mediterranean diet to cerebrovascular disease in a Mediterranean population. Am J Epidemiol. 2012;176(12):1185–1192.
97. Kastorini CM, Millionis HJ, Ioannidi A, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in relation to acute coronary syndrome or stroke non fatal events: a comparative analysis of a case/case-control study. Am Heart J. 2011;162(4):717–724.
98. Chrysohoou C, Pitsavos C, Metallinos G, et al. Cross-sectional relationship of a Mediterranean type diet to diastolic heart function in chronic heart failure patients. Heart Vessels. 2012;27(6):576–584.
99. Corella D, Carrasco P, Sorlí JV, et al. Mediterranean Diet Reduces the Adverse Effect of the TCF7L2-rs7903146 Polymorphism on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Stroke Incidence: A randomized controlled trial in a high-cardiovascular-risk population. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(11):3803–3811.
100. Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvadó J, et al. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(14):1279–1279.
101. Gardener H, Wright CB, Gu Y, et al. Mediterranean-style diet and risk of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death: the Northern Manhattan study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(6):1458–1464.
102. Sofi F, Cesari F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status. A meta-analysis. BMJ. 2008;337:a1344.
103. Sofi F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;92(5):1189–1196.
104. Lopez-Garcia E, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Li TY, et al. The Mediterranean-style diet pattern and mortality among men and women with cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;99(1):172–180.
105. Tognon G, Lissner L, Sæbye D, Walker KZ, Heitmann BL. The Mediterranean diet in relation to mortality and CVD: a Danish cohort study. Br J Nutr. 2014;111(1):151–159.
106. Babio N, Bulló M, Salas-Salvadó J. Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome: the evidence. Public Health Nutr. 2009;12(9A):1607–1617.
107. Panagiotakos DB, Dimakopoulou K, Katsouyanni K, et al. Mediterranean diet and inflammatory response in myocardial infarction survivors. Int J Epidemiol. 2009;38(3):856–866.
108. Urpi-Sarda M, Casas R, Chiva-Blanch G, et al. Virgin olive oil and nuts as key foods of the Mediterranean diet effects on inflammatory biomarkers related to atherosclerosis. Pharmacol Res. 2012;65(6):577–583.
109. Urpi-Sarda M, Casas R, Chiva-Blanch G, et al. The Mediterranean diet pattern and its main components are associated with lower plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor receptor 60 in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease. J Nutr. 2012;142(6):1019–1025.
110. Richard C, Couture P, Desroches S, Lamarche B. Effect of the mediterranean diet with and without weight loss on markers of inflammation in men with metabolic syndrome. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013;21(1):51–57.
111. Marín C, Yubero-Serrano EM, López-Miranda J, Pérez-Jiménez F. Endothelial aging associated with oxidative stress can be modulated by a healthy Mediterranean diet. Int J Mol Sci. 2013;14(5):8869–8889.
112. Huang H, Ma R, Liu D, et al. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the ratio in the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effect in patients with coronary artery disease. Dis Markers. 2012;33(6):295–302.
113. Beydoun MA, Canas JA, Beydoun HA, Chen X, Shroff MR, Zonderman AB. Serum antioxidant concentrations and metabolic syndrome are associated among U.S. adolescents in recent national surveys. J Nutr. 2012;142(9):1693–1704.
114. Giordano P, Scicchitano P, Locorotondo M, et al. Carotenoids and cardiovascular risk. Curr Pharm Res. 2012;18(34):5577–5589.
115. Marin C, Delgado-Lista J, Ramirez R, et al. Mediterranean dietreduces senescence-associated stress in endothelial cells. Age (Dordr). 2012;34(6):1309–1316.
116. Dai J, Jones DP, Goldberg J, et al. Association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and oxidative stress. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88(5):1364–1370.
117. Carluccio MA, Siculella L, Ancora MA, et al. Olive oil and red wine antioxidant polyphenols inhibit endothelial activation: antiatherogenic properties of Mediterranean diet phytochemicals. Arteriosclerosis Throm Vasc Biol. 2003;23(4):622–629.
118. Thomazella MC, Góes MF, Andrade CR, et al. Effects of high adherence to Mediterranean or low-fat diets in medicated secondary prevention patients. Am J Cardiol. 2011;108(11):1523–1529.
119. Llorente-Cortés V, Estruch R, Mena MP, et al. Effect of Mediterranean diet on the expression of pro-atherogenic genes in a population at high cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis. 2010;208(2):442–450.
120. Camargo A, Delgado-Lista J, Garcia-Rios A, et al. Expression of proinflammatory, proatherogenic genes is reduced by the Mediterranean diet in elderly people. Br J Nutr. 2012;108(3):500–508.
121. Scoditti E, Calabriso N, Massaro M, et al. Mediterranean diet polyphenols reduce inflammatory angiogenesis through MMP-9 and COX-2 inhibition in human vascular endothelial cells: a potentially protective mechanism in atherosclerotic vascular disease and cancer. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2012;527(2):81–89.
122. Marin C, Ramirez R, Delgado-Lista J, et al. Mediterranean dietreduces endothelial damage and improves the regenerative capacity of endothelium. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93(2):267–274.
123. Ruiz-Canela M, Martínez-González MA. Lifestyle and dietary risk factors for peripheral artery disease. Circ J. 2014;78 (3):553–559.
124. Pignoli P, Tremoli E, Poli A, Oreste P, Paoletti R. Intimal plus medial thickness of the arterial wall: a direct measurement with ultrasound imaging. Circulation. 1986;74:1399–1406.
125. O'Leary DH, Bots ML. Imaging of atherosclerosis: carotid intima-media thickness. Eur Heart J. 2010;31(14):1682–1689.
126. De Groot E, van Leuven SI, Duivenvoorden R, et al. Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness to assess progression and regression of atherosclerosis. Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med. 2008;5(5):280–288.
127. Lorenz MW, Markus HS, Bots ML, Rosvall M, Sitzer M. Prediction of clinical cardiovascular events with carotid intima – media thickness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Atherosclerosis. 2007;115(4):459–467.
128. Niu L, Zhang Y, Qian M, et al. Impact of multiple cardiovascular risk factors on carotid intima- media thickness and elasticity. PLoS One. 2013;8(7):e67809.
129. Buil-Cosiales P, Irimia P, Ros E, et al. Dietary fibre intake is inversely associated with carotid intima-media thickness: a cross-sectional assessment in the PREDIMED study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63(10):1213–1219.
130. Petersen KS, Clifton PM, Keogh JB. The association between carotid intima media thickness and individual dietary components and patterns. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014;24 (5):495–502.
131. Murie-Fernandez M, Irimia P, Toledo E, et al. Carotid intima-media thickness changes with Mediterranean diet: a randomized trial (PREDIMED-Navarra). Atherosclerosis. 2011;219(1):158–162.
132. Sala-Vila A, Romero-Mamani ES, Gilabert R, et al. Changes in ultrasound-assessed carotid intima-media thickness and plaque with a Mediterranean diet: A substudy of the PREDIMED trial. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014;34(2):439–445.
133. Giannini C, Diesse L, D'Adamo E, et al. Influence of the Mediterranean diet on carotid intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolaemic children: A 12-month intervention study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014;24(1):75–82.
134. Kostapanos MS, Athyros VG, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP. Mechanisms linking nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with coronary artery disease. Dig Dis Sci. 2012;57(4):1109.
135. Athyros VG, Katsiki N, Karagiannis A. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and severity of cardiovascular disease manifestations. Angiology. 2013;64(8):572–575.
136. Katsiki N, Athyros VG, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP. Metabolic syndrome and non-cardiac vascular diseases: an update from human studies. Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20 (31):4944–4952.
137. Katsiki N, Athyros VG, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP. Characteristics Other than the diagnostic criteria associated with metabolic syndrome: an overview. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2014;12 (4):627–641.
138. Athyros VG, Ganotakis ES, Tziomalos K, et al. Comparison of four definitions of the metabolic syndrome in a Greek (Mediterranean) population. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010;26(3):713–719.
139. Athyros VG, Ganotakis ES, Elisaf MS, et al. Prevalence of vascular disease in metabolic syndrome using three proposed definitions. Int J Cardiol. 2007;117(2):204–210.
140. Milionis HJ, Kostapanos MS, Liberopoulos EN, et al. Different definitions of the metabolic syndrome and risk of first-ever acute ischaemic non-embolic stroke in elderly subjects. Int J Clin Pract. 2007;61(4):545–551.
141. Alberti KG, Eckel RH, Grundy SM, et al. Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome: a joint interim statement of the international diabetes federation task force on epidemiology and prevention; national heart, lung, and blood institute; American heart association; world heart federation; international atherosclerosis society; and international association for the study of obesity. Circulation. 2009;120(16):1640–1645.
142. Assy N, Nassar F, Nasser G, Grosovski M. Olive oil consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(15):1809–1815.
143. Ryan MC, Itsiopoulos C, Thodis T, et al. The Mediterranean diet improves hepatic steatosis and insulin sensitivity in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol. 2013;59(1):138–143.
144. Kontogianni MD, Tileli N, Margariti A, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Nutr. 2014;33 (4):678–683.
145. Trovato FM, Catalano D, Martines GF, Pace P, Trovato GM. Mediterranean diet and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: the need of extended and comprehensive interventions. Clin Nutr. 2015;34 (1):86–88.
146. Rizzo M, Obradovic M, Labudovic-Borovic M, et al. Uric acid metabolism in pre-hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2014;12 (4):572–585.
147. Katsiki N, Athyros VG, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP. Hyperuricaemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a relationship with implications for vascular risk? Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2011;9(6):698–705.
148. Katsiki N, Karagiannis A, Athyros VG, Mikhailidis DP. Hyperuricaemia: more than just a cause of gout? J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2013;14(6):397–402.
149. Katsiki N, Papanas N, Fonseca VA, Maltezos E, Mikhailidis DP. Uric acid and diabetes: is there a link? Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(27):4930–4937.
150. Athyros VG, Mikhailidis DP. Uric acid, chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes: A cluster of vascular risk factors. J Diabetes Complications. 2014;28(2):122–123.
151. Kontogianni MD, Chrysohoou C, Panagiotakos DB, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and serum uric acid: the ATTICA study. Scand J Rheumatol. 2012;41(6):442–449.
152. Fitó M, Estruch R, Salas-Salvadó J, et al. Effect of the Mediterranean diet on heart failure biomarkers: a randomized sample from the PREDIMED trial. Eur J Heart Fail. 2014;16 (5):543–550.
153. Rivas A, Romero A, Mariscal-Arcas M, et al. Mediterranean diet and bone mineral density in two age groups of women. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2013;64(2):155–161.
154. Esposito K, Giugliano F, Maiorino MI, Giugliano D. Dietary factors, Mediterranean diet and erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2010;7(7):2338–2234.
155. Damasceno NR, Sala-Vila A, Cofán M, et al. Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts reduces waist circumference and shifts lipoprotein subfractions to a less atherogenic pattern in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis. 2013;230(2):347–353.
156. Fernemark H, Jaredsson C, Bunjaku B, Rosenqvist U, Nystrom FH, Guldbrand H. A randomized cross-over trial of the postprandial effects of three different diets in patients with type 2 diabetes. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e79324.
157. Mikhailidis DP, Elisaf M, Rizzo M, et al., “European panel on low density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses”: a statement on the pathophysiology, atherogenicity and clinical significance of LDL subclasses: executive summary. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2011;9(5):531–532.
158. Mikhailidis DP, Elisaf M, Rizzo M, et al., “European panel on low density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses”: a statement on the pathophysiology, atherogenicity and clinical significance of LDL subclasses. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2011;9(5):533–571.
159. Kolovou GD, Mikhailidis DP, Kovar J, et al. Assessment and clinical relevance of non-fasting and postprandial triglycerides: an expert panel statement. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2011;9(3):258–270.
160. Jones JL, Comperatore M, Barona J, et al. A Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load diet decreases atherogenic lipoproteins and reduces lipoprotein (a) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein in women with metabolic syndrome. Metabolism. 2012;61(3):366–372.
161. Delgado-Lista J, Garcia-Rios A, Perez-Martinez P, Lopez-Miranda J, Perez-Jimenez F. Olive oil and haemostasis: platelet function, thrombogenesis and fibrinolysis. Curr Pharm Des. 2011;17(8):778–785.
162. Carter SJ, Roberts MB, Salter J, Eaton CB. Relationship between Mediterranean diet score and atherothrombotic risk: findings from the third national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES III), 1988-1994. Atherosclerosis. 2010;210(2):630–636.
163. Bédard A, Tchernof A, Lamarche B, Corneau L, Dodin S, Lemieux S. Effects of the traditional Mediterranean diet on adiponectin and leptin concentrations in men and premenopausal women: do sex differences exist?. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014;68 (5):561–566.
164. Richard C, Royer MM, Couture P, et al. Effect of the mediterranean diet on plasma adipokine concentrations in men with metabolic syndrome. Metabolism. 2013;62(12):1803–1810.
165. van de Laar RJ, Stehouwer CD, van Bussel BC, Prins MH, Twisk JW, Ferreira I. Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern in early life is associated with lower arterial stiffness in adulthood: the amsterdam growth and health longitudinal study. J Intern Med. 2013;273(1):79–93.
166. Saulle R, Semyonov L, La Torre G. Cost and cost-effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet: results of a systematic review. Nutrients. 2013;5(11):4566–4586.
Cite article
Cite article
Cite article
OR
Download to reference manager
If you have citation software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice
Information, rights and permissions
Information
Published In
Article first published online: April 27, 2014
Issue published: April 2015
Keywords
PubMed: 24778424
Authors
Metrics and citations
Metrics
Article usage*
Total views and downloads: 3231
*Article usage tracking started in December 2016
Articles citing this one
Receive email alerts when this article is cited
Web of Science: 92 view articles Opens in new tab
Crossref: 107
-
The consequences of poor dietary patterns on the proliferation of non-...
-
Gut Microbiota and Specific Response to Diet
-
Gut Microbiota and Specific Response to Diet
-
Characterizing the microbiome of patients with myeloproliferative neop...
-
La diète méditerranéenne est-elle durable ?
-
Endothelial dysfunction, platelet hyperactivity, hypertension, and the...
-
Mediterranean Diet Adherence Is Associated with Favorable Health-Relat...
-
Adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle improves metabolic status in co...
-
Gut Microbiota and Specific Response to Diet
-
Mediterranean Diet and Obesity-related Disorders: What is the Evidence...
-
Dietary intake and educational outcomes among Australian university st...
-
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Nutritional Status in Women with B...
-
Evaluation of an Application for Mobile Telephones (e-12HR) to Increas...
-
Nutritional Knowledge of the Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Pos...
-
Higher Adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Is Inversely Ass...
-
Dietary patterns in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Stay on...
-
Application of Mediterranean Diet in Cardiovascular Diseases and Type ...
-
Weekend–Weekday Differences in Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet amo...
-
Dietary patterns in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Stay on...
-
The effects of presenting health and environmental impacts of food on ...
-
Positive Effects of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Supplementation and DietBra...
-
Nutrition Module design in Maintain Your Brain: an internet-based rand...
-
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and COVID-19: A Segmentation Analy...
-
Portuguese Mediterranean Diet as a Future Trend for Healthy and Sustai...
-
Personalized Nutritional Intervention to Improve Mediterranean Diet Ad...
-
Nutritional Approaches to Decrease Allergy Outcomes in the Offspring o...
-
Panoply of plant extracts in the treatment of prion diseases
-
Oral factors and adherence to Mediterranean diet in an older Greek pop...
-
Impact of Ramadan Fasting on Dietary Intakes Among Healthy Adults: A Y...
-
Dietary habits, lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease: Fro...
-
Carnosol induces the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived...
-
Bioactive Compounds in Edible Oils and Their Role in Oxidative Stress ...
-
Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with better cognitive statu...
-
Total Analysis of the Major Secoiridoids in Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Va...
-
Mediterranean-Type Dietary Pattern and Physical Activity: The Winning ...
-
Association between the Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Syndrome with...
-
Nutraceuticals and Cardiovascular Disease
-
Nutritional Approaches for Sarcopenia
-
Oleuropein and skin cancer
-
Probiotics from fermented olives
-
Mediterranean diet and role of olive oil
-
Polyphenols in neuroprotection and brain disorders
-
Recent advances on dietary polyphenol's potential roles in Celiac Dise...
-
Alimentos e dietas funcionais
-
Inflammatory marker changes in a 24-month dietary and physical activit...
-
The Benefits of Including Hummus and Hummus Ingredients into the Ameri...
-
The Efficacy of an Energy-Restricted Anti-Inflammatory Diet for the Ma...
-
How Health Habits Influence the Physiological Response During a Physic...
-
Clustering of Dietary Patterns and Lifestyles Among Spanish Children i...
-
Impact of Host, Lifestyle and Environmental Factors in the Pathogenesi...
-
Mediterranean diet and Psoriatic Arthritis activity: a multicenter cro...
-
Findings of a Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Mediterranean D...
-
Relationship between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Body Comp...
-
Health Behaviors and Psychological Distress Among Conscripts of the Li...
-
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Related with Physical Fitness and Phys...
-
The Mediterranean style diet and cognition
-
Is olive oil good for you? A systematic review and meta-analysis on an...
-
Meeting international screen-time guidelines is associated with health...
-
Domestic Sautéing with EVOO: Change in the Phenolic Profile
-
Evaluating Mediterranean diet adherence in university student populati...
-
The Secrets of the Mediterranean Diet. Does [Only] Olive Oil Matter?
-
The Fluid Aspect of the Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention and Manag...
-
Neuro-nutrients as anti-alzheimer's disease agents: A critical review
-
Preliminary evidence of the clinical effectiveness of odourless garlic
-
Boron-rich diet may regulate blood lipid profile and prevent obesity: ...
-
Management of dyslipidaemias in the elderly population—A narrative rev...
-
The Relationship between Social Capital within Its Different Contexts ...
-
Depression and eating styles are independently associated with dietary...
-
The Mediterranean Diet: From an Environment-Driven Food Culture to an ...
-
Olive Tree Biophenols in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: When Bitter is Be...
-
Cognition and Health Ageing
-
Nutrition in Inflammatory Lung Diseases
-
The association between adherence to a Mediterranean style diet and co...
-
Comparison of the Dietary Antioxidant Profiles of 21 a priori Defined ...
-
Diet quality in persons with and without depressive and anxiety disord...
-
Exploring the Perceived Barriers to Following a Mediterranean Style Di...
-
A corn straw-based diet increases release of inflammatory cytokines in...
-
Adherence to the Healthy Nordic Food Index in the Norwegian Women and ...
-
Wine: An Aspiring Agent in Promoting Longevity and Preventing Chronic ...
-
Manchette-acrosome disorders and testicular efficiency decline observe...
-
Arginine inhibits the malignant transformation induced by interferon-g...
-
Dyslipidaemia in the elderly: to treat or not to treat?
-
Inter-relationship of the Intestinal Microbiome, Diet, and Mental Heal...
-
Potential Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Plant Polyphenols
-
Dietary management of dyslipidaemias. Is there any evidence for cardio...
-
Module 2: Changing Eating
-
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with the presence and ...
-
Cardiovascular disease prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes melli...
-
Olives and Olive Oil: A Mediterranean Source of Polyphenols
-
Effect of various diets on biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome
-
The Importance of Nutrition in a Conceptual Framework of Frailty Syndr...
-
Med Diet 4.0: the Mediterranean diet with four sustainable benefits
-
Oleuropein and Cancer Chemoprevention: The Link is Hot
-
Is there any association of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms with m...
-
Metal Dyshomeostasis and Their Pathological Role in Prion and Prion-Li...
-
Healthy Foods for Healthy Aging
-
Transcriptomic analyses of the anti-adipogenic effects of oleuropein i...
-
Autophagy mediated by arginine depletion activation of the nutrient se...
-
Measurements of skeletal muscle mass and power are positively related ...
-
Long-Term Immunomodulatory Effects of a Mediterranean Diet in Adults a...
-
Adherence to a Mediterranean-Style Diet and Effects on Cognition in Ad...
-
Diets high in corn oil or extra-virgin olive oil differentially modify...
-
Effect of a Natural Supplement Containing Curcuma Longa, Guggul, and C...
-
Plant polyphenols as inhibitors of NF-κB induced cytokine productionâ...
-
Retarding brain ageing and cognitive decline
-
Nutritional Influences on Epigenetic Programming
-
I Have a Client Who Wants to Follow the Mediterranean Diet—Where Do I ...
Figures and tables
Figures & Media
Tables
View Options
Get access
Access options
If you have access to journal content via a personal subscription, university, library, employer or society, select from the options below:
loading institutional access options
Alternatively, view purchase options below:
Purchase 24 hour online access to view and download content.
Access journal content via a DeepDyve subscription or find out more about this option.
