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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
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It is highly recognized that the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) provides beneficial and regulatory effects on non-communicable, dietary related diseases. For patients with type 1 & 2 diabetes (T2D), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) an adequate metabolic control ensures their well-being in addition to lowering their risk of mortality. Such was the focus of six of this week's studies, primarily centered on glycemic control, serum lipids, and renal function in various trials and observational studies.
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A special report from the MEDGI-Carb randomized controlled dietary intervention revealed that a dietary intake of low-glycemic index foods within a Mediterranean dietary pattern could reduce glycemic indices in adults with metabolic syndrome features at high risk for T2D. Another dietary intervention based on MedDiet and dietary counseling showed significant improvements in hypoglycemic-like symptoms in the postprandial period.
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Abnormal lipid profile is a common feature in patients with T2DM, and an intermediary risk factor for CVD. Between 72-85% of individuals who have T2DM present dyslipidaemia, this greatly differs from the 25-50% of individuals who exhibit increased triglycerides levels within the general population. In patients with T2DM, MedDiet is highly recommended as it might modify serum lipids; an effect partially attributed to its signature intake of olive oil and rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. The Feel4Diabetes study investigated potential associations of diet quality with lipid profile in adults from families at high risk for developing T2D from six European countries. This study suggested that a higher score in an a-priori-defined healthy dietary index, described in the report, was associated with a favorable lipid profile in adults with high socioeconomic status. On the other hand, a cross-sectional study on type 1 diabetes found significant associations between adherence to MedDiet and metabolic control in these patients. Also in this report, extra-virgin olive oil intake was found to be inversely associated with blood pressure in youths.
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Finally, impaired kidney function is usually caused by T2D and hypertension, therefore, investigators analyzed data from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort after 6.5 years of follow-up. Higher adherence to the MedDiet measured by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was associated with a significantly lower risk of renal function decline compared with low adherence. In conclusion, these studies suggest that MedDiet as a healthy eating pattern contributed to improving blood sugar and glycemic control, but also kidney function. Benefits were conferred to their plant-based composition, and the use of olive oil as the main culinary fat.
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