Definition of the Mediterranean Diet; a Literature Review
- PMID: 26556369
- PMCID: PMC4663587
- DOI: 10.3390/nu7115459
Definition of the Mediterranean Diet; a Literature Review
Abstract
Numerous studies over several decades suggest that following the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and improve cognitive health. However, there are inconsistencies among methods used for evaluating and defining the MedDiet. Through a review of the literature, we aimed to quantitatively define the MedDiet by food groups and nutrients. Databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Academic Search Premier and the University of South Australia Library Catalogue were searched. Articles were included if they defined the MedDiet in at least two of the following ways: (1) general descriptive definitions; (2) diet pyramids/numbers of servings of key foods; (3) grams of key foods/food groups; and (4) nutrient and flavonoid content. Quantity of key foods and nutrient content was recorded and the mean was calculated. The MedDiet contained three to nine serves of vegetables, half to two serves of fruit, one to 13 serves of cereals and up to eight serves of olive oil daily. It contained approximately 9300 kJ, 37% as total fat, 18% as monounsaturated and 9% as saturated, and 33 g of fibre per day. Our results provide a defined nutrient content and range of servings for the MedDiet based on past and current literature. More detailed reporting amongst studies could refine the definition further.
Keywords: Mediterranean diet; definition; foods and nutrients; quantity.
Similar articles
-
Dietary Patterns and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review [Internet].Alexandria (VA): USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review; 2020 Jul. Alexandria (VA): USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review; 2020 Jul. PMID: 35258870 Free Books & Documents. Review.
-
A Mediterranean Diet Rich in Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Is Associated with a Reduced Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Older Individuals at High Cardiovascular Risk.J Nutr. 2019 Nov 1;149(11):1920-1929. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxz147. J Nutr. 2019. PMID: 31334554 Clinical Trial.
-
Mediterranean-style diet for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Mar 13;3(3):CD009825. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009825.pub3. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019. PMID: 30864165 Free PMC article.
-
The Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Health.Circ Res. 2019 Mar;124(5):779-798. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313348. Circ Res. 2019. PMID: 30817261 Review.
-
Differences in the interpretation of a modernized Mediterranean diet prescribed in intervention studies for the management of type 2 diabetes: how closely does this align with a traditional Mediterranean diet?Eur J Nutr. 2019 Jun;58(4):1369-1380. doi: 10.1007/s00394-018-1757-3. Epub 2018 Jun 25. Eur J Nutr. 2019. PMID: 29943276 Review.
Cited by
-
Mediterranean diet effects on vascular health and serum levels of adipokines and ceramides.PLoS One. 2024 May 29;19(5):e0300844. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300844. eCollection 2024. PLoS One. 2024. PMID: 38809909 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Effects of Mediterranean Diet, Curcumin, and Resveratrol on Mild-to-Moderate Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.Nutrients. 2024 May 16;16(10):1504. doi: 10.3390/nu16101504. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 38794742 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Associations of dietary factors with gastric cancer risk: insights from NHANES 2003-2016 and mendelian randomization analyses.Front Genet. 2024 May 2;15:1377434. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1377434. eCollection 2024. Front Genet. 2024. PMID: 38756450 Free PMC article.
-
Twice-Weekly 36-Hour Intermittent Fasting Practice Attenuates Hunger, Quadruples ß-Hydroxybutyrate, and Maintains Weight Loss: A Case Report.Cureus. 2024 Apr 10;16(4):e57979. doi: 10.7759/cureus.57979. eCollection 2024 Apr. Cureus. 2024. PMID: 38738128 Free PMC article.
-
Chronic Kidney Disease Diets for Kidney Failure Prevention: Insights from the IL-11 Paradigm.Nutrients. 2024 Apr 29;16(9):1342. doi: 10.3390/nu16091342. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 38732588 Free PMC article. Review.
References
-
- Martínez-González M.Á., Sánchez-Villegas A. The emerging role of mediterranean diets in cardiovascular epidemiology: Monounsaturated fats, olive oil, red wine or the whole pattern? Eur. J. Epidemiol. 2004;19:9–13. - PubMed
-
- Kromhout D., Menotti A., Bloemberg B., Aravanis C., Blackburn H., Buzina R., Dontas A.S., Fidanza F., Giampaoli S., Jansen A., et al. Dietary saturated and trans fatty acids and cholesterol and 25-year mortality from coronary heart disease: The seven countries study. Prev. Med. 1995;24:308–315. doi: 10.1006/pmed.1995.1049. - DOI - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Miscellaneous