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Nutrients
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Mediterranean Diet and Nutrition Literacy
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Mediterranean Diet and Nutrition Literacy

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 2405

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Paula Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Interests: mediterranean diet; wine; olive oil; foods; nutrients; phytochemicals; polyphenols; bioactive compounds; lifestyle patterns; sustainable agriculture; wine marketing; wine tourism; sustainable wine tourism and tourist motivation; sustainable agri-food chain; science communication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is widely acknowledged as one of the healthiest and most sustainable dietary patterns, emphasizing a rich variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and olive oil and the moderate consumption of fish and dairy, along with the minimal intake of red and processed meats. However, the benefits of the MedDiet extend far beyond its nutritional composition; its adoption also relies heavily on individuals' nutrition literacy, that is, their ability to access, understand, and apply dietary information.

This Special Issue, “Mediterranean Diet and Nutrition Literacy”, seeks to explore the intricate relationship between MedDiet, nutrition literacy, and health outcomes. We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that investigate the role of nutrition literacy in promoting adherence to the MedDiet, analyze the barriers and enablers of adoption across diverse populations, and assess the effectiveness of educational and public health interventions tailored to enhance MedDiet adherence.

Submissions focusing on innovative strategies to bridge knowledge gaps, empower individuals and communities, and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases through improved nutrition literacy and MedDiet promotion are particularly welcome. We also encourage studies that examine the intersection of cultural traditions, educational practices, and dietary behaviors to foster long-term adherence to this dietary pattern.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue, which aims to advance both the scientific understanding and practical applications of the MedDiet in improving health through enhanced nutrition literacy.

Dr. Paula Silva
Guest Editor

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
  • nutrition literacy
  • health promotion
  • dietary adherence
  • chronic disease prevention
  • noncommunicable diseases
  • public health interventions
  • nutritional education
  • dietary behavior
  • food literacy
  • cultural dietary patterns
  • healthy eating
  • nutrition communication
  • sustainable diets
  • health outcomes

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

18 pages, 712 KiB  
Review
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Phenolic Compounds: Modulating Mitochondrial Function and Protecting Against Chronic Diseases—A Narrative Review
by María Ángeles Silva-Soto, Paloma Carrillo-Fernández, Estefanía T. Saez Lancellotti, Elena Medina-Jiménez, Juan Francisco Mogaburo Alba, Nerea Catena-Granados, María Dolores López-Carmona, Luis Miguel Pérez-Belmonte, Nuria Prieto Lain, Ana Isabel Gómez Hernández, Ricardo Gómez-Huelgas and María-Rosa Bernal-López
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091443 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 726
Abstract
Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), an essential element of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), has demonstrated considerable potential in improving mitochondrial health and protecting against chronic diseases. This narrative review aims to explore how the main phenolic compounds found in EVOO—hydroxytyrosol, [...] Read more.
Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), an essential element of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), has demonstrated considerable potential in improving mitochondrial health and protecting against chronic diseases. This narrative review aims to explore how the main phenolic compounds found in EVOO—hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and oleocanthal—contribute to mitochondrial health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Methods: A search for scientific evidence was carried out between October 2024 and March 2025 in different bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SciSpace, and ResearchRabbit databases. The search strategy included combinations of terms such as “extra virgin olive oil”, “EVOO polyphenols”, “mitochondrial function”, “oxidative stress”, “inflammation”, “mitophagy”, and “chronic diseases”. Preclinical, clinical, and mechanistic studies were included, giving priority to peer-reviewed publications. Results: This narrative review shows how some bioactive components of EVOO activate cellular pathways, such as mTOR, AMPK and sirtuins, which promote mitochondrial biogenesis, improve the efficiency of the electron transport chain, and protect mitochondrial DNA integrity. Furthermore, EVOO improves mitochondrial membrane fluidity and integrity, ensuring its functionality and efficiency. On the other hand, nutrition literacy, an important component of health, is a critical determinant of people’s eating behaviors. Conclusions: Although recent scientific evidence supports the metabolic benefits of EVOO components on mitochondrial metabolism and function, further nutritional intervention studies with these components are recommended to confirm their clinical relevance as a dietary tool aimed at preventing and/or delaying age-related metabolic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet and Nutrition Literacy)
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20 pages, 1375 KiB  
Review
Enhancing Adolescent Food Literacy Through Mediterranean Diet Principles: From Evidence to Practice
by Paula Silva
Nutrients 2025, 17(8), 1371; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081371 - 17 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 587
Abstract
Adolescent obesity and inadequate dietary habits remain pressing public health concerns in Portugal, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Food literacy has emerged as a critical framework for promoting healthier eating behaviors; however, school-based interventions are rarely culturally grounded or theoretically structured. This narrative [...] Read more.
Adolescent obesity and inadequate dietary habits remain pressing public health concerns in Portugal, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Food literacy has emerged as a critical framework for promoting healthier eating behaviors; however, school-based interventions are rarely culturally grounded or theoretically structured. This narrative review synthesizes the experiential strategies described in the literature to improve adolescent food literacy in school settings. It provides a conceptual foundation for and supports the design rationale of FOODWISELab: The Mediterranean Diet Experience—a school-based intervention aligned with Mediterranean diet principles and specifically tailored to the Portuguese educational context. Findings from the literature—emphasizing the value of school gardens, cooking classes, digital tools, and curricular integration—guided the development of FOODWISELab: The Mediterranean Diet Experience, a comprehensive intervention designed for implementation in public secondary schools in Portugal. The proposed protocol bridges the gap between research and practice by offering a structured, context-sensitive model built around four core pedagogical domains: planning, selecting, preparing, and eating. It integrates multiple components, including hands-on learning, family and community involvement, and robust evaluation strategy. FOODWISELab addresses the well-documented gap in adolescent food literacy by delivering a feasible, culturally relevant, and replicable intervention. The anchored Mediterranean dietary model aims to promote adolescent health, sustainability, and cultural heritage in both the urban and rural educational contexts. By presenting a detailed and actionable protocol, this review enhances the practical value of food literacy research and offers strategic guidance for future educational and public health initiatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet and Nutrition Literacy)
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