1
|
Rodrigues M, de Castro Mendes F, Padrão P, Delgado L, Paciência I, Barros R, Rufo JC, Silva D, Moreira A, Moreira P. Mediterranean Diet and Airway Inflammation in School-Aged Children. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1305. [PMID: 37628304 PMCID: PMC10453938 DOI: 10.3390/children10081305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
There seems to exist an intricate relationship between airway inflammation, body mass index (BMI), and diet. The intake of specific foods or food groups has been suggested to suppress the oxidative stress and inflammatory processes that characterize airway inflammation, but little is known about dietary patterns and their complex interplay with BMI and airway inflammation. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), a characteristic European diet, and levels of airway inflammation in school-aged children, taking into account their BMI. This cross-sectional analysis comprised 660 children: 49.1% females, 7-12 years old. Adherence to the MD was assessed through the alternate Mediterranean score (aMED). Higher scores represent a healthier diet (0-8). Airway inflammation was assessed measuring exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). Two categories of BMI were considered: non-overweight/non-obese (p < 85th) and overweight/obese (p ≥ 85th). The associations between diet and airway inflammation were estimated using logistic regression models. Higher scores of the aMED were associated with decreased odds of having eNO ≥ 35 ppb, but only in non-overweight/non-obese children (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.97). For overweight/obese children, the previous association was not significant (OR = 1.57, 95% CI, 0.88-2.79). Our findings suggest that adherence to the MD is associated with lower levels of airway inflammation among non-overweight/non-obese children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Rodrigues
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; (M.R.); (R.B.); (A.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Francisca de Castro Mendes
- Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (F.d.C.M.); (L.D.); (D.S.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Patrícia Padrão
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; (M.R.); (R.B.); (A.M.); (P.M.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Luís Delgado
- Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (F.d.C.M.); (L.D.); (D.S.)
- Immuno-Allergology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE) , Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Paciência
- Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research (CERH), Population Health, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland;
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Renata Barros
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; (M.R.); (R.B.); (A.M.); (P.M.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
| | - João Cavaleiro Rufo
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Diana Silva
- Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (F.d.C.M.); (L.D.); (D.S.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
| | - André Moreira
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; (M.R.); (R.B.); (A.M.); (P.M.)
- Basic and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (F.d.C.M.); (L.D.); (D.S.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
- Immuno-Allergology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Moreira
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; (M.R.); (R.B.); (A.M.); (P.M.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ingrassia M, Altamore L, Columba P, Raffermati S, Lo Grasso G, Bacarella S, Chironi S. Mediterranean Diet, Sustainability, and Tourism-A Study of the Market's Demand and Knowledge. Foods 2023; 12:2463. [PMID: 37444201 DOI: 10.3390/foods12132463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Globalization intensified competitiveness among agribusinesses worldwide in recent years. The European Commission focused on enhancing sustainable agriculture and food products' territorial uniqueness for competing in the international market. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a model of feeding and lifestyle belonging to the ancient Mediterranean culture, which also embodies a sustainable food system. Therefore, in 2010, UNESCO recognized the MD as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and Sicily (southern Italy) is its official physical site. Despite its worldwide fame, the notion of the MD runs the risk of being mystified because it is described most often as something that does not correspond to what it is holistically. The aim of this study is to know the market demand of the MD by Italian people and foreign tourists in Sicily and the level of knowledge of the MD by users, both consumers and experts. A survey at top Sicilian traditional restaurants with owners/chefs and their clients was carried out. The study provided an in-depth understanding of the current lack of knowledge about the holistic meaning of the MD. The study highlights the desirability of integrated science-policy actions (also for communication) and proposes a vertical communication system to revive and direct the MD demand toward its holistic model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Ingrassia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luca Altamore
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Pietro Columba
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sara Raffermati
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lo Grasso
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Bacarella
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefania Chironi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mediterranean diet scoring systems: understanding the evolution and applications for Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries. Br J Nutr 2021; 128:1371-1392. [PMID: 34289917 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114521002476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MedD) is a flexible dietary pattern which has such variability that has led to inconsistencies in definitions and assessment. The purpose of this narrative review is to evaluate scoring systems in a cultural and geographic context, from Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries, for comparison and application. The early MedD scoring systems (i.e. Trichopoulou's MedD Scale (T-MDS) and alternative MedD Scale (aMed)) are widely applied throughout the world but use population-specific median cut-offs which limit interpretation and cross-study comparisons. The T-MDS and aMed also do not account for non-traditional MedD foods which are consumed in greater quantities than when the scoring systems were developed. Scoring systems developed after the MedD pyramid publication in 2011 have generally used these recommendations as a basis for food group intake cut-offs, incorporating more foods/food groups as negative components, and some have included dietary and lifestyle behaviours. The different approaches to MedD assessment have created much variability in the foods/food group components included in scoring systems. Assessments that include dietary and lifestyle behaviours may reflect the nutrition transition occurring in Mediterranean countries and better guide clinical intervention approaches. While the new scoring systems are theorised to better capture MedD adherence and behaviours, comparisons are sparse in the literature and none exists outside of Europe. Consensus on food and dietary behaviours to include as well as the methodology for assigning points in MedD scoring systems is needed to advance our understanding of MedD and health relationships to promote public health messaging and clinical application.
Collapse
|