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Ramos-Lopez O, Santuario-Loera A. Low Dietary Betaine Intake Is Associated with Increased Blood Cholesterol in Mexican Subjects. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:819. [PMID: 38667581 PMCID: PMC11050001 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12080819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Betaine, an osmolyte derivative of the metabolite choline and the amino acid glycine, acts as a methyl donor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine and is involved in the maintenance of adequate lipid metabolism. There is growing evidence for the role of betaine in the development of various lipid-related diseases, including dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to analyze associations between betaine intake and blood lipid profiles in Mexican subjects. METHODS A total of 212 adults were randomly recruited in the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Betaine intake was estimated using Nutritionist Pro software. Body composition and metabolic measurements were obtained by conventional methods. In the total sample, the average intake of betaine was 14.32 mg/d. Individuals were categorized into three groups according to tertiles of betaine consumption: tertile/group 1 (<4.16 mg/d), tertile/group 2 (4.16-12.02 mg/d), and tertile/group 3 (>12.02 mg/d). RESULTS Compared to group 3, subjects within group 1 had higher serum levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL-c (p = 0.026), and non-HDL-c (p = 0.021). In addition, significant negative Pearson correlations were found between betaine intake and the serum levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.432, 95% CI, -0.684, -0.185, p = 0.001), LDL-c (r = -0.370, 95% CI, -0.606, -0.134, p = 0.002), and non-HDL-c (r = -0.351, 95%CI, -0.604, -0.098, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that a low intake of betaine is associated with elevated blood cholesterol levels in Mexican subjects. On this basis, betaine consumption could be used as an additional dietary measure for cardiovascular care. However, additional studies are required to confirm our results in other Mexican regions as well as in other populations worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Ramos-Lopez
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, Baja California, Mexico;
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Pant A, Chew DP, Mamas MA, Zaman S. Cardiovascular Disease and the Mediterranean Diet: Insights into Sex-Specific Responses. Nutrients 2024; 16:570. [PMID: 38398894 PMCID: PMC10893368 DOI: 10.3390/nu16040570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality and disease burden in women globally. A healthy diet is important for the prevention of CVD. Research has consistently favoured the Mediterranean diet as a cardio-protective diet. Several studies have evaluated associations between the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular outcomes, including traditional risk factors like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. In addition, consistent evidence suggests that the components of the Mediterranean diet have a synergistic effect on cardiovascular risk due to its anti-inflammatory profile and microbiome effects. While the benefits of the Mediterranean diet are well-established, health advice and dietary guidelines have been built on largely male-dominant studies. Few studies have investigated the beneficial associations of the Mediterranean diet in sex-specific populations, including those with non-traditional risk factors that are specific to women, for instance polycystic ovarian syndrome and high-risk pregnancies, or more prevalent in women, such as chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence regarding the Mediterranean diet in women in relation to cardiovascular health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushriya Pant
- Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia;
| | - Derek P. Chew
- Victorian Heart Hospital, Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Mamas A. Mamas
- Keele Cardiovascular Research Group, Keele University, Newcastle ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Sarah Zaman
- Westmead Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia;
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
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Zupo R, Castellana F, Piscitelli P, Crupi P, Desantis A, Greco E, Severino FP, Pulimeno M, Guazzini A, Kyriakides TC, Vasiliou V, Trichopoulou A, Soldati L, La Vecchia C, De Gaetano G, Donati MB, Colao A, Miani A, Corbo F, Clodoveo ML. Scientific evidence supporting the newly developed one-health labeling tool "Med-Index": an umbrella systematic review on health benefits of mediterranean diet principles and adherence in a planeterranean perspective. J Transl Med 2023; 21:755. [PMID: 37885010 PMCID: PMC10601192 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04618-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Med-Index is a one-health front-of-pack (FOP) label, based on Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) principles, developed to summarize information about the nutritional properties and related-health benefits of any food as well as its sustainable production processes, and the associated food company's social responsibility parameters in a new "Planeterranean" perspective. Thus, Med-Index can be adopted in and by any European region and authority as well as worldwide; this is achieved by consumption and cooking of locally available and sourced foods that respect MedDiet principles, both in terms of healthy nutrition and sustainable production. The huge body of scientific evidence about the health benefits of the MedDiet model and principles requires a comprehensive framework to encompass the scientific reliability and robustness of this tool. A systematic review was carried out to examine the association between human health and adherence to MedDiet patterns upon which the "Med-Index" tool was subsequently developed. METHODS MEDLINE and PubMed databases were searched for eligible publications from 1990 to April 2023. Systematic literature reviews, with or without meta-analysis, of clinical trials and observational studies were screened by two independent investigators for eligibility, data extraction, and quality assessment. English language and the time interval 1990-2023 were applied. A registry code CRD42023464807 was generated on PROSPERO and approved for this search protocol. The corrected covered area (CCA), calculated to quantify the degree of overlap between reviews, gave a slight overlap (CCA = 4%). RESULTS A total of 84 systematic reviews out of 6681 screened records were selected. Eligible reviews included studies with predominantly observational designs (61/84, 72.6%%), of which 26/61 referenced studies of mixed observational and RCT designs, while 23/84 (27.4%) were RCT-only systematic reviews. Seventy-nine different entries were identified for health outcomes, clustered into 10 macro-categories, each reporting a statistically significant association with exposure to the MedDiet. Adherence to MedDiet was found to strongly benefit age-related chronic diseases (21.5%), neurological disorders (19%), and obesity-related metabolic features (12.65), followed by CVDs (11.4%), cancer (10.1%), diabetes (7.5%), liver health (6.3%), inflammation (5%), mortality (5%), and renal health (1.2%). The quality of the studies was moderate to high. CONCLUSION In the context of a "Planeterranean" framework and perspective that can be adopted in any European region and worldwide, MedDiet represents a healthy and sustainable lifestyle model, able to prevent several diseases and reduce premature mortality. In addition, the availability of a FOP, such as Med-Index, might foster more conscious food choices among consumers, paying attention both to human and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Zupo
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), University "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabio Castellana
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), University "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20123, Milan, Italy.
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, 80138, Naples, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Crupi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), University "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy
| | - Addolorata Desantis
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), University "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy
| | - Enrico Greco
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20123, Milan, Italy
| | - Franca Paola Severino
- Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50121, Florence, Italy
| | - Manuela Pulimeno
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20123, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Guazzini
- Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50121, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Laura Soldati
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo La Vecchia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Gaetano
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS NEUROMED, 86077, Pozzilli, Italy
| | | | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20123, Milan, Italy.
| | - Filomena Corbo
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Lisa Clodoveo
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine (DIM), University "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy
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Milani F, Bottoni M, Giuliani C, Colombo L, Casiraghi MC, Colombo PS, Bruschi P, Erba D, Fico G. Alpine Diet in Valmalenco (Lombardy, Italy): Nutritional Features of Spontaneous Plants and Traditional Dishes. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15081988. [PMID: 37111208 PMCID: PMC10143808 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Along the Alps, the Alpine diet is considered to be one of the most common nutritional models. Next to traditional animal-based products, spontaneous plants of the territory are collected and eaten. AIM The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional features of selected autochthonous plants of the territory and the typical recipe of green gnocchi. METHODS The analyses of proximate composition, carotenoid, total phenol, and mineral contents in raw and cooked plant samples and the chemical composition and in vitro starch digestibility in green and control gnocchi were performed. RESULTS Except for Aruncus dioicus, all the wild plants contained high levels of carotenoids (15-20 mg/100 g FW), mainly as xanthophylls. Rumex acetosa showed the highest levels of total phenols (554 mg GAE/100 g FW), and Urtica dioica can be considered to be a good dietary source of iron, calcium, and magnesium (4.9, 410, and 72 mg/100 g FW). Cooking significantly decreased the potassium and magnesium contents in all wild species, and total phenols and carotenoids in Aruncus dioicus, Blitum bonus-henricus, and Silene vulgaris (p < 0.05). The slowly digestible fraction of starch (%SDS/available starch), which is inversely correlated to insulin demand, was significantly increased in green gnocchi compared to matched control gnocchi (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Traditional consumption of spontaneous plants in the Alpine regions might increase the dietary intakes of several bioactive substances and contribute to cover the nutritional needs of micronutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Milani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Martina Bottoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Claudia Giuliani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colombo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Casiraghi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences DEFENS, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Sira Colombo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Piero Bruschi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Science and Technology, University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Erba
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences DEFENS, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Gelsomina Fico
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
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Papandreou P, Gioxari A, Daskalou E, Grammatikopoulou MG, Skouroliakou M, Bogdanos DP. Mediterranean Diet and Physical Activity Nudges versus Usual Care in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from the MADEIRA Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients 2023; 15. [PMID: 36771382 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diet quality and nutritional status have been shown to impact the disease activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been suggested as an anti-inflammatory regime to improve disease status and reduce cardiovascular risk. The Mediterranean DiEt In Rheumatoid Arthritis (MADEIRA) was a single-blind (statistician), two-arm randomized clinical trial, investigating the effects of a 12-week lifestyle intervention, including a personalized isocaloric MD plan with the promotion of physical activity (PA), supported through a clinical decision support systems (CDSS) platform, versus usual care in women with RA. Forty adult women with RA on remission were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to either the intervention or the control arm. The intervention group received personalized MD plans and lifestyle consultation on improving PA levels, whereas the controls were given generic dietary and PA advice, based on the National Dietary Guidelines. The primary outcome was that the difference in the MD adherence and secondary outcomes included change in disease activity (DAS28), anthropometric indices (BodPod), dietary intake, PA, vitamin D concentrations, and blood lipid profiles after 12 weeks from the initiation of the trial. At 3 months post-baseline, participants in the MD arm exhibited greater adherence to the MD compared with the controls (p < 0.001), lower DAS28 (p < 0.001), favorable improvements in dietary intake (p = 0.001), PA (p = 0.002), body weight and body composition (p < 0.001), blood glucose (p = 0.005), and serum 1,25(OH)2D concentrations (p < 0.001). The delivery of the MD and PA promotion through CDSS nudges in women with RA in an intensive manner improves the MD adherence and is associated with beneficial results regarding disease activity and cardiometabolic-related outcomes, compared with the usual care.
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Navarro-Martínez R, Mafla-España MA, Cauli O. Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Spain: Social Determinants Related to the Family. Nutrients 2022; 14. [PMID: 36501170 DOI: 10.3390/nu14235141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MD), a well-established quality diet model, and regular physical activity are associated with reducing the appearance or progression of several chronic diseases and reducing morbidity and mortality. However, reduction of these goals, adherence to the MD, and regular physical activity occur at all ages, including older individuals in Mediterranean countries such as Spain, where at least adherence to the MD is culturally rooted. Objective: To evaluate the degree of adherence to the MD and physical activity in older individuals. Methods: The sample comprises 679 older adults aged 60 and over who attended activities in municipal centers for older adults in Valencia. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet, frequency of physical activity, and anthropometric assessment were used. Results: High adherence (score ≥ 9) to MD was observed only in 23.7% of the study sample. Smoking habits or having meals in fast-food restaurants on a weekly basis were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with lower MD adherence. Age, BMI, marital status, and physical activity were not significantly associated with MD adherence. Physical activity was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in individuals who were divorced or widow/ers and in those taking care of their grandchildren several times a week. Conclusions: Adherence to the MD in a big Spanish city is low among older individuals. Socio-family factors seem to play a role. Public health and governmental strategies should reinforce adherence to the MD among older individuals as a gold standard for nutrition.
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Mattavelli E, Olmastroni E, Bonofiglio D, Catapano AL, Baragetti A, Magni P. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet: Impact of Geographical Location of the Observations. Nutrients 2022; 14:2040. [PMID: 35631181 PMCID: PMC9144454 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mediterranean diet has emerged as a comprehensive lifestyle, including specific foods and meal composition and a set of behavioural and social features. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been shown to promote health and reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases. The actual implementation of the Mediterranean diet is affected by several sociocultural factors as well as geographical components. Indeed, the geographical location, such as a specific country or different areas in a country and specific latitude and climate, appears to be an important factor that may strongly affect the implementation of the Mediterranean diet or some of its principles as well as the adherence to it. Another dynamic component affecting personal nutritional choices, also regarding adherence to the Mediterranean diet and its principles, is the individual life-long trajectory of food preference and nutrition habits and awareness. In this review, we discuss the current evidence on the impact of geographical location on adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
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Kontele I, Grammatikopoulou MG, Vassilakou T. Level of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Weight Status among Adolescent Female Gymnasts: A Cross-Sectional Study. Children (Basel) 2021; 8:children8121135. [PMID: 34943331 PMCID: PMC8700392 DOI: 10.3390/children8121135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adolescent female gymnasts are a vulnerable population in terms of their diet, as their nutritional needs are higher due to their growth and high daily training demands. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a well-known dietary pattern that is associated with a greater nutritional adequacy and a lower prevalence of overweight. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the degree of adherence to the MD among adolescent female athletes who participated in all disciplines of gymnastics in Greece, as well as to explore the potential correlations between MD adherence, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). A total of 269 female gymnasts (between 11-18 years old) completed the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and reported their weight and height. Approximately 10% of the participants were underweight and a mere 5.6% were classified as overweight. A high adherence to the MD was reported by 34.9% of the sample and this was correlated with a healthier BMI. Moreover, specific eating habits, such as eating nuts 2-3 times per week and eating fast-food less than once-weekly, were also associated with BMI. Athletes, parents, and coaches of gymnastics should be informed and educated regarding balanced nutrition habits. Future studies could evaluate adherence to MD, as well as the factors that influence the eating behaviors of adolescent female and male athletes in various sports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Kontele
- Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 196 Alexandras Avenue, GR-11521 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (I.K.); (T.V.)
| | - Maria G. Grammatikopoulou
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, GR-57001 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Tonia Vassilakou
- Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 196 Alexandras Avenue, GR-11521 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: (I.K.); (T.V.)
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