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Mediterranean Diet and Chronic Diseases
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Mediterranean Diet and Chronic Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 10769

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tassos Kyriakides

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
Interests: mediterranean diet; cardiovascular health; metabolic syndrome; cancer; diabetes; neurodegeneration; cognitive health; mental health; clinical research; epidemiology; clinical trials; implementation; healthy-aging cognitive health; planetary health; extra virgin olive oil; sustainability
Dr. Christiana Demetriou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus
Interests: epidemiology; public health; cancer; neurodegenerative diseases; Mediterranean diet; early life exposures; chronic disease preventiones; Chronic disease prevention

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues，

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has long been recognized as one of the healthiest nutritional paradigms, standing the test of time thanks to its profound impact on human health. In an era focused on promoting healthy living and aging, it is essential to refocus on the MD to reinforce nutritional practices that yield significant health benefits. Over the past few decades, substantial scientific evidence has highlighted the MD's role in preventing and managing chronic diseases, often referred to as the neglected epidemic. Its effects are particularly evident in cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, as well as in cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cognitive/neurological conditions. By mitigating these chronic diseases, directly or indirectly, through its nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, the MD continues to stand out as a model for health promotion and disease prevention. This Special Edition aims to explore the latest research on the Mediterranean diet, its epidemiological aspects, and its mechanisms of action, offering insights into how this traditional dietary pattern can continue to serve as a cornerstone of public health strategies targeting chronic disease prevention and management.

Dr. Tassos C. Kyriakides
Dr. Christiana A. Demetriou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Mediterranean diet
  • cardiovascular health
  • metabolic syndrome
  • cancer
  • diabetes
  • neurodegeneration
  • cognitive health
  • mental health
  • clinical research
  • epidemiology
  • clinical trials
  • implementation
  • healthy aging

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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16 pages, 868 KiB  
Article
The Effects of a Mediterranean Diet on Metabolic Hormones and Cytokines in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: A Prospective Interventional Study
by Anca Moțățăianu, Ion Bogdan Mănescu, Georgiana Șerban, Valentin Ion, Rodica Bălașa and Sebastian Andone
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1437; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091437 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 421
Abstract
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease but lacks effective treatments. Dietary interventions, notably the Mediterranean diet, promise to modulate disease pathways. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the Mediterranean diet on gut hormones and cytokines in [...] Read more.
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease but lacks effective treatments. Dietary interventions, notably the Mediterranean diet, promise to modulate disease pathways. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the Mediterranean diet on gut hormones and cytokines in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: We conducted a 12-month, single-center prospective study on a total of 44 ALS patients. After a 6-month observation period, the patients were placed on a dairy-free Mediterranean diet for the next 6 months. We evaluated the patients at baseline (T0), 6 months (T1), and 12 months (T2). We measured the ALS Functional Rating Scale—Revised (ALSFRS-R) scores and a panel of metabolic hormones and cytokines. Results: The ALSFRS-R scores declined over 12 months (37.59 ± 6.32 at T0 vs. 30.23 ± 8.91 at T2, p < 0.001), indicating expected disease progression with no significant difference in the rate of decline before and after the dietary intervention. The leptin levels significantly decreased from T0 to T1 (T0: 4956 ± 3994 pg/mL vs. T1: 3196 ± 2807 pg/mL, p = 0.038). The insulin and GLP-1 levels showed significant drops at T2 (insulin T0: 480 ± 369 vs. T2: 214 ± 213 pmol/L, p < 0.01; GLP-1 T0: 118 ± 76 vs. T2: 60 ± 57 pg/mL, p < 0.01). C-peptide increased at T2 (T0: 3814 ± 1967 vs. T2: 9532 ± 4000 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Among the cytokines, the levels of IL-12P70, IL-13, IL-9, and IL-2 significantly decreased from T0 to T2 (all p < 0.05), while IL-17A and TNFα significantly increased between T1 and T2 (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The Mediterranean diet intervention in ALS patients modulated several metabolic hormones and cytokines but with no evidence of impacting the disease’s evolution or of a slowed clinical progression. These findings suggest a potential role for dietary intervention, particularly the Mediterranean diet, in modulating gut hormones and cytokines in ALS patients, but its impact on disease course is unclear. Future randomized studies are needed to confirm these changes and to determine whether dietary intervention can have any benefit in ALS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet and Chronic Diseases)
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40 pages, 673 KiB  
Systematic Review
Mediterranean Diet and Quality of Life in Adults: A Systematic Review
by Justyna Godos, Monica Guglielmetti, Cinzia Ferraris, Evelyn Frias-Toral, Irma Domínguez Azpíroz, Vivian Lipari, Andrea Di Mauro, Fabrizio Furnari, Sabrina Castellano, Fabio Galvano, Licia Iacoviello, Marialaura Bonaccio and Giuseppe Grosso
Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030577 - 5 Feb 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 7195
Abstract
Background/Objectives: With the increasing life expectancy and, as a result, the aging of the global population, there has been a rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions, which can significantly impact individuals’ health-related quality of life, a multidimensional concept that comprises an individual’s [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: With the increasing life expectancy and, as a result, the aging of the global population, there has been a rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions, which can significantly impact individuals’ health-related quality of life, a multidimensional concept that comprises an individual’s physical, mental, and social wellbeing. While a balanced, nutrient-dense diet, such as Mediterranean diet, is widely recognized for its role in chronic disease prevention, particularly in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, its potential benefits extend beyond these well-known effects, showing promise in improving physical and mental wellbeing, and promoting health-related quality of life. Methods: A systematic search of the scientific literature in electronic databases (Pubmed/Medline) was performed to identify potentially eligible studies reporting on the relation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and health-related quality of life, published up to December 2024. Results: A total of 28 studies were included in this systematic review, comprising 13 studies conducted among the general population and 15 studies involving various types of patients. Overall, most studies showed a significant association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and HRQoL, with the most significant results retrieved for physical domains of quality of life, suggesting that diet seems to play a relevant role in both the general population and people affected by chronic conditions with an inflammatory basis. Conclusions: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet provides significant benefits in preventing and managing various chronic diseases commonly associated with aging populations. Furthermore, it enhances the overall health and quality of life of aging individuals, ultimately supporting more effective and less invasive treatment approaches for chronic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet and Chronic Diseases)
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15 pages, 1830 KiB  
Systematic Review
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case–Control Studies
by Nader Zalaquett, Irene Lidoriki, Maria Lampou, Jad Saab, Kishor Hadkhale, Costas Christophi and Stefanos N. Kales
Nutrients 2025, 17(2), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020287 - 14 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1901
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with rising incidence rates and significant mortality. While tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and viral infections are established risk factors, the role of dietary patterns, particularly adherence to the Mediterranean diet [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with rising incidence rates and significant mortality. While tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and viral infections are established risk factors, the role of dietary patterns, particularly adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in HNC prevention has gained increasing attention. The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between adherence to the MD and the risk of HNC. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines, to identify relevant studies published up to January 2024 that assessed the association between MD adherence and HNC risk in adults. Pooled odds ratios (OR) for a three-unit increase in MD adherence scores and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Eleven case–control studies comprising 6106 HNC cases and 9166 controls met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. High adherence to the MD was significantly associated with a reduced risk of HNC (pooled OR = 0.561, 95% CI: 0.368–0.856, p = 0.007, I2 = 92%). Individual component analyses from three studies revealed that higher fruit and vegetable consumption significantly decreased HNC risk, whereas legumes, fish, and low meat intake showed no statistically significant associations. Conclusions: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a significantly reduced risk of head and neck cancer. These findings support the role of the MD in cancer prevention and highlight the potential benefits of MD adherence in reducing HNC risk. Further prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet and Chronic Diseases)
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