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Observational Study
. 2023 Mar 3;15(5):1272.
doi: 10.3390/nu15051272.

Mediterranean Diet and Lung Function in Adults Current Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the MEDISTAR Project

Roxana-Elena Catalin  1   2 , Francisco Martin-Lujan  1   2   3 , Patricia Salamanca-Gonzalez  2 , Meritxell Palleja-Millan  1   2   3 , Felipe Villalobos  1   2 , Antoni Santigosa-Ayala  1   2   3 , Anna Pedret  4 , Rosa M Valls-Zamora  4 , Rosa Sola  4 , On Behalf Of The Medistar Research Group Investigators
Affiliations
Observational Study

Mediterranean Diet and Lung Function in Adults Current Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the MEDISTAR Project

Roxana-Elena Catalin et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) has a positive impact on lung function in subjects with lung disease. In subjects free of respiratory diseases, but at risk, this association is not yet well established.

Methods: Based on the reference data from the MEDISTAR clinical trial (Mediterranean Diet and Smoking in Tarragona and Reus; ISRCTN 03.362.372), an observational study was conducted with 403 middle-aged smokers without lung disease, treated at 20 centres of primary care in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). The degree of MeDi adherence was evaluated according to a 14-item questionnaire, and adherence was defined in three groups (low, medium, and high). Lung function were assessed by forced spirometry. Logistic regression and linear regression models were used to analyse the association between adherence to the MeDi and the presence of ventilatory defects.

Results: Globally, the pulmonary alteration prevalence (impaired FEV1 and/or FVC) was 28.8%, although it was lower in participants with medium and high adherence to the MeDi, compared to those with a low score (24.2% and 27.4% vs. 38.5%, p = 0.004). Logistic regression models showed a significant and independent association between medium and high adherence to the MeDi and the presence of altered lung patterns (OR 0.467 [95%CI 0.266, 0.820] and 0.552 [95%CI 0.313, 0.973], respectively).

Conclusions: MeDi adherence is inversely associated with the risk impaired lung function. These results indicate that healthy diet behaviours can be modifiable risk factors to protect lung function and reinforce the possibility of a nutritional intervention to increase adherence to MeDi, in addition to promoting smoking cessation.

Keywords: Mediterranean Diet; lung function; primary care centres; smoking.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT diagram adapted for this study: Screening, randomization and initial distribution of the MEDISTAR study participants. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was assessed using the 14-item MEDAS validated questionnaire that considers low (0–6 points), medium (7–8 points) and high (9–14 points) adherence [19].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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