Mediterranean diet, tobacco consumption and body composition during perimenopause. The FLAMENCO project

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with handgrip strength in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the possible association of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) with muscle strength and body composition.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study evaluated 112 postmenopausal women (aged 41-71 years). Fasting blood samples were obtained for biochemical/hormonal assessment. The Mediterranean Dietary Score (MedDietScore) was calculated and used to stratify adherence by tertiles (low [T1], moderate [T2] or high [T3]). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured by dynamometry and body composition with dual-X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

Women with low-moderate MedDietScore (T1/T2) had lower HGS values than those with higher scores (19.5 ± 4.9 kg vs. 21.9 ± 3.9 kg, p = 0.023). A linear stepwise increase of HGS values per MedDietScore tertile was found (T1 vs. T2 vs. T3: 18.4 ± 4.4 kg vs. 20.6 ± 5.2 kg vs. 21.9 ± 3.9 kg, ANOVA p-value for linear trend = 0.009, ANCOVA p-value = 0.026). Multivariable models confirmed that HGS values were independently associated with the MedDietScore (β-coefficient = 0.266, p = 0.010). Lean mass values were associated with the MedDietScore (β-coefficient = 0.205, p = 0.040). All models were adjusted for age and cardiometabolic risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that the higher the adherence to the MD, the better the muscle strength and lean mass in postmenopausal women. Prospective studies are required to evaluate the significance of these observations in cardiovascular prevention strategies at midlife.

Body composition analysis: A snapshot across the perimenopause

During the perimenopause, estrogen concentrations gradually decrease, and this is associated with changes to women's energy expenditure and intake. These changes result in weight gain and altered body fat distribution, with increased abdominal fat deposition and cardiometabolic risk via insulin resistance. Body composition analysis is a useful clinical tool in outpatient settings, as it is simple, not expensive and provides information on body mass index, skeletal mass, fat mass, fat percentage and basal metabolic rate. This review discusses body composition analysis as part of a health assessment for healthy women during the perimenopause and investigates the associations between body composition and cardiometabolic profile.

Factors associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet among medical students at a private university in Lima, Peru

<b>Introduction:</b> The Mediterranean diet (MedD)is a characteristic eating pattern of the countries of the Mediterranean region. Nonetheless, is unknown its adherence in medical students. We aimed to determine the prevalence of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMedD) and associated factors in medical students from Peru.<br /> <b>Material and methods</b>: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out by means of a virtual survey. PREDIMED scale was used to evaluate AMedD. The factors assessed were age, sex, academic year, body mass index (BMI), place of lunch consumption, cigarette smoking, and physical activity. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to present it in crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRa).<br /> <b>Results:</b> High AMedD was present in 38.50%. Statistically significant association was found for sex (PRa: 0.623; 95%CI 0.488-0.796); for overweight (PRa: 0.417; 95%CI 0.270-0.644), obesity (PRa: 0.591; 95%CI 0.400-0.874) versus normopese; cigarette smoking (PRa: 0.450; 95%CI 0.263-0.773); and high physical activity (PRa: 1.652; 95%CI 1.233-2.215).<br /> <b>Conclusions</b>: AMedD was low. The related factors were sex, BMI, consumption of lunch outside the home, cigarette smoking, and a high level of physical activity. If this is confirmed in future studies, it would be necessary to consider these elements to encourage greater consumption of MedD components by students, which would help to improve their long-term health.

Frequency of Metabolic Syndrome and Study of Anthropometric, Clinical and Biological Characteristics in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women in the City of Ksar El Kebir (Northern Morocco)

This study aimed to determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome and to identify its predictive factors in peri- and post-menopausal women in the city of Ksar El Kebir, in northern Morocco. A total of 373 peri- and post-menopausal women between 45 and 64 years old participated in the study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) definition. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to assess the degree of obesity in women; anthropometric, clinical and biological parameters were collected during interviews. The mean ages of peri- and postmenopausal women were 48.84 ± 2.4 years and 56.65 ± 4.29 years, respectively. Postmenopausal women had higher means of anthropometric and biological parameters than peri-menopausal women. We also noted a predominance of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women (n = 158) compared to peri-menopausal women (n = 81). Waist circumference was the predominant marker in the subjects studied, whereas triglycerides were the lower marker. In the overall population, the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors were higher in postmenopausal women than in peri-menopausal women, from which it can be concluded that post menopause may be a predictor of metabolic syndrome.

Nutrition in Menopausal Women: A Narrative Review

Among the various aspects of health promotion and lifestyle adaptation to the postmenopausal period, nutritional habits are essential because they concern all women, can be modified, and impact both longevity and quality of life. In this narrative review, we discuss the current evidence on the association between dietary patterns and clinical endpoints in postmenopausal women, such as body composition, bone mass, and risk markers for cardiovascular disease. Current evidence suggests that low-fat, plant-based diets are associated with beneficial effects on body composition, but further studies are needed to confirm these results in postmenopausal women. The Mediterranean diet pattern along with other healthy habits may help the primary prevention of bone, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases in the postmenopausal period. It consists on the use of healthy foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and is associated with a small but significant decrease in blood pressure, reduction of fat mass, and improvement in cholesterol levels. These effects remain to be evaluated over a longer period of time, with the assessment of hard outcomes such as bone fractures, diabetes, and coronary ischemia.

Effects of the Mediterranean diet adherence on body composition, blood parameters and quality of life in adults

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that Mediterranean diet (MD) may improve quality of life and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), some neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine adults' adherence to the MD and evaluate the effect of the adherence to the MD on anthropometric measurements, specific biochemical parameters and quality of life.

METHODS

A total of 142 volunteer adults were included. Food frequency questionnaire, MD adherence with 14-item scale, quality of life, anthropometric measurements via bioelectrical impedance analysis and certain blood parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

Out of 14 points, the mean MD adherence score of the participants was 6.89. The mean fat mass was significantly higher in those with low MD adherence (p=0.024). The results of other anthropometric measurements (except height) were higher in those with low MD adherence, though results were non-significant. The participants with high adherence to the MD had lower levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) (p=0.041), insulin (p=0.019) and triglyceride (TG) (p=0.012) compared with those with lower adherence. No significant relationship was found between the MD and quality of life and other blood parameters.

CONCLUSION

According to our study, MD adherence was associated with decreased fat mass, FBG, insulin and TG levels which suggests that the MD may be useful in the treatment of some chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and CVD. However, more clinical trials may be performed to determine the relationship between MD and chronic diseases.

Mediterranean diet as tool to manage obesity in menopause: A narrative review

Menopause is a physiological event in a woman's life characterized by the cessation of spontaneous menstrual cycles caused by a reduction in the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and a consequent increase of gonadotropins, which occurs when the stocks of ovarian follicles end. Weight gain is a common phenomenon in menopause and age of onset is influenced by several factors. Among modifiable risk factors are sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy nutritional patterns, which often result in obesity that in turn contributes to an increase in cardiovascular risk in menopause, mostly through low-grade inflammation. The Mediterranean diet (MedD) is a healthy dietary pattern characterized by an adequate consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes with a reduction of saturated animal fats in favor of unsaturated vegetable fats and a high intake of bioactive compounds including polyphenols and ω-3 fatty acids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potency. Because of its palatability and long-term sustainability, the MedD, especially if hypocaloric, combined with physical activity, has shown promising results in terms of weight loss in individuals with obesity, as well as similar beneficial effects in menopause-related obesity. It has been observed that greater adherence to the MedD in menopause is associated with reduced risk for becoming overweight/obese, better cardiometabolic profile, and an improvement in menopausal symptoms. Although it is necessary to confirm these data with future large intervention trials, the MedD can be considered a safe and healthy approach in the management of menopause-related obesity and its cardiometabolic complications.