Mediterranean Diet, Microbiota and Immunity

Targeted Application of Functional Foods as Immune Fitness Boosters in the Defense against Viral Infection

In recent times, the emergence of viral infections, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the monkeypox virus, and, most recently, the Langya virus, has highlighted the devastating effects of viral infection on human life. There has been significant progress in the development of efficacious vaccines for the prevention and control of viruses; however, the high rates of viral mutation and transmission necessitate the need for novel methods of control, management, and prevention. In recent years, there has been a shift in public awareness on health and wellbeing, with consumers making significant dietary changes to improve their immunity and overall health. This rising health awareness is driving a global increase in the consumption of functional foods. This review delves into the benefits of functional foods as potential natural means to modulate the host immune system to enhance defense against viral infections. We provide an overview of the functional food market in Europe and discuss the benefits of enhancing immune fitness in high-risk groups, including the elderly, those with obesity, and people with underlying chronic conditions. We also discuss the immunomodulatory mechanisms of key functional foods, including dairy proteins and hydrolysates, plant-based functional foods, fermentates, and foods enriched with vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. Our findings reveal four key immunity boosting mechanisms by functional foods, including inhibition of viral proliferation and binding to host cells, modulation of the innate immune response in macrophages and dendritic cells, enhancement of specific immune responses in T cells and B cells, and promotion of the intestinal barrier function. Overall, this review demonstrates that diet-derived nutrients and functional foods show immense potential to boost viral immunity in high-risk individuals and can be an important approach to improving overall immune health.

Association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet with anthropometric measurements and nutritional status in adolescents

BACKGROUND

adolescence is a critical period for developing healthy eating habits. It is crucial to evaluate and encourage adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a sustainable and healthy diet model in this age group.

OBJECTIVE

this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and anthropometric measurements and nutritional status in Turkish adolescents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

the demographic characteristics, health information, nutritional habits, physical activity status, and 24-hour dietary recall of the adolescents were obtained with a questionnaire. Adherence to Mediterranean diet was evaluated with the Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS).

RESULTS

a total of 1,137 adolescents (mean age 14.0 ± 1.37 years) were included; 30.2 % of the boys and 39.5 % of the girls were overweight/obese. The median (interquartile range) value of the MSDPS was 10.7 (7.7), and this value was 11.0 (7.6) for the boys and 10.6 (7.4) for the girls (p > 0.05). The levels of protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, zinc, and potassium intake increased with adherence to Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001). Age, parental education level, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and skipping meals affected MSDPS.

CONCLUSION

adolescents' adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low and correlated with some anthropometric measures. Increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet may contribute to preventing obesity and adequate and balanced nutrition in adolescents.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Perceived Immunity Among the Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is a model of a sustainable dietary pattern. It has a protective role against coronary heart diseases, but nowadays it is hypothesized against many other diseases. Aim of the study This study aims to assess the prevalence of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and its association with immune status among the general Saudi population. Subjects and methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted over a sample size of 327 Saudi adults living in Jeddah. A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed in a digital Google Form via various social networks using the convenient sampling technique. The questionnaire had four major divisions: sociodemographic, general health characteristics, adherence to MedDiet, and immune status. The data were collected, validated, and subjected to statistical analysis. Results The study showed a statistically significant association between adherence to MedDiet and perceived immune status (p-value <0.05). However, the associations between adherence to MedDiet and having any chronic illness, and perceived general health were not statistically significant (p-value >0.05). Multivariable regression models showed that sex and occupation are significant predictors of adherence to MedDiet. Conclusion This study concluded that despite low adherence to MedDiet among Saudis, there was an association between adherence to MedDiet and immune status. This study recommends the implementation of MedDiet as an intervention for the management of chronic diseases to be considered by policymakers and guideline developers.

Cytoprotective activities of representative nutrients from the Mediterranean diet and of Mediterranean oils against 7-ketocholesterol- and 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced cytotoxicity: Application to age-related diseases and civilization diseases

7-ketocholesterol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol are two oxysterols mainly formed by the autoxidation of cholesterol. These two molecules are interconvertible via specific enzymes. These two oxysterols are often observed at increased amounts in biological fluids as well as tissues and organs affected during age-related diseases and in diseases of civilization such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and ocular diseases as well as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Noteworthy, 7-ketocholesterol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol induce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are frequently observed in patients with age-related and civilization diseases. For this reason, the involvement of these two oxysterols in the pathophysiology of these diseases is widely suspected. In addition, the toxicity of these oxysterols can lead to death by oxiapoptophagy characterized by oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and autophagy criteria. To prevent, or even treat, certain age-related or civilization diseases associated with increased levels of 7-ketocholesterol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol, the identification of molecules or mixtures of molecules attenuating or inhibiting the toxic effects of these oxysterols allows to consider new treatments. In this context, many nutrients present in significant amounts in the Mediterranean diet, especially tocopherols, fatty acids, and polyphenols, have shown cytoprotective activities as well as several Mediterranean oils (argan and olive oils, milk thistle seed oil, and pistacia lentiscus seed oil). Consequently, a nutraceutical approach, rich in nutrients present in the Mediterranean diet, could thus make it possible to counteract certain age-related and civilization diseases associated with increased levels of 7-ketocholesterol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol.

Black Sea Mussels Qualitative and Quantitative Chemical Analysis: Nutritional Benefits and Possible Risks through Consumption

Mussels have a particular nutritional value, representing a highly valued food source and thus sought after worldwide. Their meat is a real culinary delicacy, rich in proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, trace elements, enzymes, and vitamins. The seasonal variation of mussels’ biochemical composition has been studied to determine the best harvesting period to capitalize on various biologically active fractions. In this work biochemical determinations have been performed on fresh flesh samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis specimens from the Black Sea coast to study seasonal variations in mussels’ biochemical compounds. An analysis of significant lipid classes and the fatty acid composition of lipid extracts obtained from mussel flesh has also been performed. Since mussels retain pollutants from the marine environment, in parallel, the concentration of heavy metals in the meat of mussels collected for the analysis of the chemical composition was investigated. The impact and risk of heavy metal poisoning due to food consumption of mussels contaminated due to pollution of the marine harvesting area was evaluated by the bio-concentration factor of metals and estimated daily intakes of heavy metals through mussel consumption.