The Mediterranean Diet: An Update of the Clinical Trials

Abstract

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is a term used to identify a dietary pattern originating from the unique multi-millennial interplay between natural food resources and the eating practices of people living in the Mediterranean basin. Scientific evidence has described the healthy properties of the MedDiet and its beneficial role in several pathological conditions. Nevertheless, current socio-economic trends have moved people away from this healthy lifestyle. Thus, clinical and biological evidence supporting the benefits of the MedDiet is needed to overcome these limitations. Clinical nutrition research examines the effects of dietary interventions on biological or health-related outcomes in a determined study population. The evidence produced by these studies is useful for dietary guidance and public health messaging. We provided an update of the clinical trials registered on the database clinicaltrials.gov evaluating the effects of the MedDiet on health and specific diseases. Our findings revealed an increased number of clinical trials in the last decade and found that most disease-related studies focused on cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. The majority of MedDiet’s beneficial effects could be primarily related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties as well as the effectiveness of this dietary pattern in controlling waist circumference and obesity. Moreover, strict and long-lasting adherence to the MedDiet as well as the beneficial effects of specific components (e.g., olive oil or its polyphenols) seem to emerge as useful insights for interventional improvements. These findings present further insights into the MedDiet’s resources and how it could strengthen overall public health.

Beneficial Effects of Essential Oils from the Mediterranean Diet on Gut Microbiota and Their Metabolites in Ischemic Heart Disease and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…In previous studies, the Mediterranean diet has been associated with reduced inflammation [ 69 ] due to the effect of some of its components. In our study, the analysis of plasma inflammatory markers, cytokines and chemokines, showed different profiles depending on the type of essential oil used in the treatment.…”

The Impact of Body Weight Changes versus Exercise Capacity Changes on Health-Related Factors following a Lifestyle Intervention in Employees with Metabolic Syndrome

“…This suggests that dietary induced weight loss is of stronger impact when addressing cardiovascular risk factors such as waist circumference, blood lipids, or blood glucose concentration, which was reported before [ 17 , 38 ]. In this regard, the Mediterranean Diet, in particular, showed beneficial effects on disease-related interventions with a focus on nutrition, with cardiovascular disease and MetS being the most investigated diseases for Mediterranean Diet [ 39 ]. The beneficial effects could be primarily related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, as well as the effectiveness of this dietary pattern in controlling waist circumference and obesity [ 39 ].…”

“…In this regard, the Mediterranean Diet, in particular, showed beneficial effects on disease-related interventions with a focus on nutrition, with cardiovascular disease and MetS being the most investigated diseases for Mediterranean Diet [ 39 ]. The beneficial effects could be primarily related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, as well as the effectiveness of this dietary pattern in controlling waist circumference and obesity [ 39 ].…”

Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Diet Counselling on Adherence to the Mediterranean Lifestyle in Patients after Myocardial Infarction

“…The management of myocardial infarction includes immediate revascularisation and the long-term secondary prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease in the form of prophylactic medication and lifestyle intervention—i.e., smoking cessation, regular exercise, and a Mediterranean-type diet [ 2 ]. The Mediterranean diet is entangled with the way of life in Mediterranean countries [ 3 , 4 , 5 ] and is associated with favourable glucose and lipid metabolism (i.e., lower fasting plasma glucose levels, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and low high-density (HDL) cholesterol levels) [ 6 ], improved vascular function [ 6 ], and reduced cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Pertinent guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention, therefore, recommend Mediterranean diet for all patients after myocardial infarction [ 2 ], as it was shown to be effective for both the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases [ 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], even as a modifier of genetic risk for cardiovascular disease [ 14 ].…”