Bioactive Compounds of the Mediterranean Diet as Nutritional Support to Fight Neurodegenerative Disease

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders are a widespread cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, characterized by neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal depletion. They include selective malfunction and progressive loss of neurons, glial cells, and neural networks in the brain and spinal cord. There is an urgent need to develop new and more effective therapeutic strategies to combat these devastating diseases because, today, there is no treatment that can cure degenerative diseases; however, we have many symptomatic treatments. Current nutritional approaches are beginning to reflect a fundamental change in our understanding of health. The Mediterranean diet may have a protective effect on the neurodegenerative process because it is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Increasing knowledge regarding the impact of diet on regulation at the genetic and molecular levels is changing the way we consider the role of nutrition, resulting in new dietary strategies. Natural products, thanks to their bioactive compounds, have recently undergone extensive exploration and study for their therapeutic potential for a variety of diseases. Targeting simultaneous multiple mechanisms of action and a neuroprotection approach with the diet could prevent cell death and restore function to damaged neurons. For these reasons, this review will be focused on the therapeutic potential of natural products and the associations between the Mediterranean-style diet (MD), neurodegenerative diseases, and markers and mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

The Association between Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Behavioral Outcomes among Urban Teenagers

“…The MedDiet is considered important for brain function and may act as an essential factor for the protection and against systemic neuroinflammation and oxidative stress processes (12). This diet pattern is associated with an increased intake of important pro-brain function micronutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids.…”

“…There are several biological pathways that may interact with the nervous system, stimulate neurotransmission, synaptic growth, and a reduction of proinflammatory processes in cell membrane (12,13).…”

Association of Mediterranean diet adherence with disease progression, quality of life and physical activity, sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters, and serum biomarkers in community-dwelling older adults with multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study

“…MD has been well-recognized as a dietary pattern that can exert a protective effect on the neurodegenerative process, including MS, due to the fact that it is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [ 46 ]. Recent high-quality evidence has currently supported that MD can also promote the reduction of systemic inflammation in several human diseases, including MS [ 47 ].…”

Identification and Characterization of Neuroprotective Properties of Thaumatin-like Protein 1a from Annurca Apple Flesh Polyphenol Extract

“…In recent years, many efforts have been undertaken to identify diet compounds that can act as multifactorial agents capable of preventing, delaying, and counteracting the onset of AD and PD [ 6 , 7 ]. The Mediterranean diet contributes to a healthy status, and it also exerts anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and neuroprotective effects that are mostly due to its high intake of antioxidants and polyphenols, which are very abundant in legumes, vegetables, and fruits [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The apple ( Malus domestica ), one of the most consumed fruits in the Mediterranean area, is rich in fibers, vitamins (vitC), minerals such as potassium, and various antioxidant components, mostly polyphenols that are known for their beneficial effects on human health [ 13 ].…”