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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
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Cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome
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Children and youth people
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Neurodegenerative diseases and elderly
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Today chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM), are the principal causes of deaths worldwide. Olive oil and the Mediterranean diet are well-known for their cardioprotective benefits, which has led to numerous experimental and clinical trials. Nevertheless, this review discusses the limitations of these clinical studies, including the need for greater heterogeneity: with low-risk populations, extra-Mediterranean people, and long-term interventions. Furthermore, it reported a sex bias, highlighting a need for more female animals in basic research and a presence of both sexes in clinical trials.
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Obesity is increasing among the youth and, as it was observed in this cross-sectional study, it is associated with a decreased adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Mediterranean countries. The investigators evaluated body weight and adherence using the KIDMED index among Italian adolescents. The results suggested a positive relationship between higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet and normal weight, especially among those who played sports. Moreover, low adherence represented almost 60% of the adolescent participants and was associated with overweight and obesity. This study places the importance of promoting the Mediterranean dietary pattern to overcome youth obesity.
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Another population studied in relation to the Mediterranean diet was the elderly, specifically looking for evidence of its benefits on neurodegenerative and chronic diseases. A clinical trial in an elderly European population studied the changes in plasmatic levels of iron and selenium. Lower levels were associated with anemia, which is a common disease and a risk factor for other dietary deficiencies. This study evaluated the bioavailability of these nutrients after following a Mediterranean dietary pattern for one year. It was observed that an increase in iron and selenium consumption was not associated with a decrease in the plasma iron and selenium status.
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