A growing body of evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) may protect against cognitive decline and dementia. Many epidemiologic studies and several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have found positive effects of the MD on cognitive function, but findings remain inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an update on the current knowledge of the effects of the MD on cognitive function, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease (AD), and all-type dementia. Five databases were searched-PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO (1806 to 25 May 2015)-with the use of prespecified criteria. Human studies that were published in English without any restriction on study type, population assessed, intervention period, follow-up time, or publication date, and that examined the association between adherence to the MD and cognitive function or dementia symptoms (as measured by cognitive function tests), were included. Only primary publication types were included. Thirty-two studies from 25 unique cohorts, including 5 RCTs and 27 observational studies, met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies showed that the MD was associated with improved cognitive function, a decreased risk of cognitive impairment or decreased risk of dementia, or AD. Three studies found no correlation between the MD and AD, 3 further studies found no association between the MD and cognitive impairment, and 5 studies found no association between the MD and cognitive function. There was large heterogeneity, and studies differed with regard to quality. Based on the findings and the limitations in study design, we conclude that adherence to the MD is associated with better cognitive performance. However, it should be noted that the majority of findings come from epidemiologic studies that provide evidence for a correlation between the MD and cognition but not for a cause-and-effect relation. More controlled trials are required to establish a causational relation. Adv Nutr 2016;7:889-904.

Context The impact of various dietary interventions on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterized by immune-inflammatory response, has been subject to increased attention. Objective A systematic review was conducted to update the current knowledge on the effects of nutritional, dietary supplement, and fasting interventions on RA outcomes. Data Sources Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with prespecification of all methods, Medline and Embase were systematically searched for relevant articles. Data Extraction Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Results A total of 70 human studies were identified. Administration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids at high doses resulted in a reduction in RA disease activity and a lower failure rate of pharmacotherapy. Vitamin D supplementation and dietary sodium restriction were beneficial on some RA outcomes. Fasting resulted in significant but transient subjective improvements. While the Mediterranean diet demonstrated improvements in some RA disease activity measures, outcomes from vegetarian, elimination, peptide, or elemental diets suggested that responses are very individualized. Conclusion Some dietary approaches may improve RA symptoms and thus it is recommended that nutrition should be routinely addressed.

The impact of dietary interventions such as specific types of diet or nutritional supplements in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been subject to increased attention in recent years. The recognition of the unmet need to better understand the effects of specific dietary interventions on disease outcomes in RA, along with the growing patient interest on lifestyle interventions beyond pharmacotherapy, have informed the undertaking of this narrative literature review. The benefits of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) have been shown in various studies, although only a limited number of trials focus specifically on RA. Based on the studies reviewed, the MD may provide benefits in reducing pain and swollen and tender joints in RA patients. There is more and better evidence that n-3 polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) supplementation has the potential to reduce inflammation and provide clinical benefit, possibly slowing progression to pharmacotherapy. Yet, many of these studies to date are limited in their methodology; this being partly a reflection of the complexity of the research questions being addressed. Consequently, the conclusions that can be robustly drawn from their results are restricted. With a focus on clinical trials on the MD and fish oil supplementation, this review critically appraises the evidence, discussing the findings of studies in the wider context of impact on RA outcomes, methodological challenges, and practical points to consider as part of the routine care of RA patients.

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Materials and methods: Following a market research in Greece, there were found 100 kinds of infant/toddler milk, 38 kinds of feta cheese (bulk sale) and 72 refrigerated milk. From these samples, 52 infant milk, 25 Feta cheese and 32 refrigerated milk were randomly selected. The determination of AFM1 was based on indirect immunoenzymatic ELISA method with the analytical packages Tecna (Italy) and Prognosis Biotech (Greece), for comparison purposes, strictly following the manufacturer's instructions. Results: The levels of AFM1, in all samples tested, were below the tolerable maximum level, while concentrations were very low (0.23-9.38 ng/l for infant formula, 0.54 to 4.09ng/l for cheese and 0.20-17.84ng/l for refrigerated milk). Comparing the two analytic packages, no statistically significant difference was found (p-value <0.001). Conclusions: Milk and dairy products, tested, marketed in Greece, are safe for consumption, regarding the AFM1. From a public health perspective, the results are satisfactory, given that the population exposure to AFM1, based on the nutrient profile of the Greeks, was limited.