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. 2017 Sep;52(5):208-222.
doi: 10.1097/NT.0000000000000228. Epub 2017 Aug 15.

Mediterranean Diet and Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Donato F Romagnolo  1 , Ornella I Selmin  1
Affiliations

Mediterranean Diet and Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Donato F Romagnolo et al. Nutr Today. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

A large body of research data suggests that traditional dietary habits and lifestyle unique to the Mediterranean region (Mediterranean diet, MD) lower the incidence of chronic diseases and improve longevity. These data contrast with troubling statistics in the United States and other high income countries pointing to an increase in the incidence of chronic diseases and the projected explosion in cost of medical care associated with an aging population. In 2013, the MD was inscribed by UNESCO in the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity." The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans included the MD as a healthy dietary pattern. Therefore, specific objectives of this article are to provide an overview of the nutritional basis of this healthful diet, its metabolic benefits, and its role in multiple aspects of disease prevention and healthy aging. Whereas recommendations about the MD often focus on specific foods or bioactive compounds, we suggest that the eating pattern as a whole likely contributes to the health promoting effects of the MD.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Studies on MD and health during the last 20 years. Bars represent number of citations in PubMed for two time periods (1995–2004 and 2005–present) for combinations of MD studies and specific chronic diseases.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Change in total energy consumption among US adults during the period 1971–2000.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
US changes in per capita consumption of major food commodities and commercially available fruits and vegetables from 1980 to 2009. A) Number (#) of eggs consumed/per capita/year); B) Foods consumed at > 100 lbs/per capita/year; C) Foods consumed at < 100 lbs/capita/year; and D) Non-frozen yogurt (consumed lbs/per capita/year).
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See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition December 2015. Available at http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines.
    1. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Scientific report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientificreport. Accessed 15 Aug 2015.
    1. Bach-Faig A, Berry EM, Lairon D, et al. Mediterranean diet pyramid today. Science and cultural updates. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14:2274–2284. - PubMed
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