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Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2022) | Viewed by 14842

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Herbert Ryan Marini

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Guest Editor

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Interests: Mediterranean diet; nutraceuticals; metabolic syndrome; environment; neuroendocrine-immune system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns worldwide. Growing evidence suggests an inverse relationship between high adherence to the MD and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The identification of the active constituents of the MD is crucial in the formulation of appropriate dietary guidelines. Research into the biochemical properties of the minor components of this diet (vitamins, sterols, polyphenols, etc.) is very active and could lead to the formulation of bioactive foods and nutraceuticals. The goal of this Special Issue is to highlight novel research findings on MD as a source of bioactive foods and nutraceuticals that could represent an innovative and sustainable approach for the prevention and treatment of NCDs.

We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, and minireviews focusing on but not limited to the following topics:

Animal and clinical studies on MD and its micronutrients and their influence on relevant health outcomes;
Synergistic or antagonistic action between different bioactive foods or nutraceuticals present in the MD on neuroendocrine-immune system modulation and gut microbiota dysbiosis;
The MD and its minor components as an example of “sustainable innovation”.

Prof. Dr. Herbert Ryan Marini
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
nutraceuticals
bioactive foods
noncommunicable diseases
sustainable innovation

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 198 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Mediterranean Diet and Soy Isoflavones for Integrated Management of the Menopausal Metabolic Syndrome

by Herbert Ryan Marini

Nutrients 2022, 14(8), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081550 - 08 Apr 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

The transition from premenopause to postmenopause is associated with the development of multiple elements of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

11 pages, 598 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Lipid Composition in the Colaus-PsyColaus Study

by Mélisande Flatscher, Antoine Garnier, Pedro Marques-Vidal and Vanessa Kraege

Nutrients 2023, 15(21), 4659; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15214659 - 03 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1535

Abstract

High adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, increased HDL-cholesterol levels, and decreased triglycerides (TG), and total and LDL cholesterol levels. We aimed to assess the association of MD adherence at baseline with the lipid profile both cross-sectionally and prospectively in a sample of apparently healthy community-dwelling subjects. We conducted three cross-sectional studies using data from follow-ups 1 (FU1, 2009–2012), 2 (FU2, 2014–2017), and 3 (FU3, 2018–2021) of CoLaus|PsyCoLaus, a population-based sample from Lausanne, Switzerland. Dietary intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Two MD scores (Trichopoulou and Vormund) were computed, ranging from 0 (low) to 9 (high). In total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and TG were assessed. Incident dyslipidemia was defined as hypolipidemic treatment at FU2 or FU3. Overall, 4249 participants from FU1 (53.7% women, 57.6 ± 10.5 years, Trichopoulou 4.0 ± 1.5, Vormund 4.7 ± 1.9) were included. Neither MD score correlated significantly with the lipid markers and similar results were obtained according to the hypolipidemic status. Among the 3092 untreated FU1 participants with FU2 and FU3 data, 349 (11.3%) developed dyslipidemia by FU2 or FU3. No difference in MD scores was found between participants who developed dyslipidemia and those who did not (4.1 ± 1.5 vs. 4.0 ± 1.5 and 4.8 ± 1.8 vs. 4.8 ± 1.9 for Trichopoulou and Vormund, respectively, p > 0.05). Finally, no associations were found between MD score and lipid changes at 5 or 10 years. Contrary to other studies, adherence to MD at baseline did not show any significant effects on lipid composition/incident dyslipidemia in Colaus|PsyCoLaus participants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)

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11 pages, 1356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Mediterranean Diet and Type 2 Diabetes: Multiple Cross-Sectional Analyses

by Adèle Bossel, Gérard Waeber, Antoine Garnier, Pedro Marques-Vidal and Vanessa Kraege

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 3025; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15133025 - 03 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2026

Abstract

Aim: To assess whether the Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with lower levels of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a non-Mediterranean population. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of follow-ups 1 (FU1, 2009–2012, n = 4398, 45.7% men, 57.7 ± 10.5 years), 2 (FU2, 2014–2017, n = 3154, 45.0% men, 61.7 ± 9.9 years), and 3 (FU3, 2018–2021, n = 2394, 45.2% men, 65.0 ± 9.6 years) of the Colaus|PsyCoLaus study (Lausanne, Switzerland). Two MD scores (Trichopoulou, noted MD1, and Sofi, noted MD2) were calculated using participants’ dietary data. T2D was defined as a fasting plasma glucose ≥7 mmol/L and/or the presence of an antidiabetic drug treatment. Results: Participants with the highest MD adherence had a higher educational level, a lower BMI, were less frequent smokers, presented less frequently with hypertension, and were more frequent alcohol consumers. After multivariable adjustment, no differences were found between participants with and without T2D regarding MD scores: 3.93 ± 0.07 vs. 3.97 ± 0.02; 4.08 ± 0.10 vs. 3.98 ± 0.03, and 3.83 ± 0.11 vs. 3.97 ± 0.03, respectively, for the MD1 score in FU1, FU2, and FU3. In addition, no association was found between adherence to MD and T2D: odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) for medium and high relative to low adherence to MD1: 0.87 (0.68–1.10) and 0.89 (0.64–1.24) in FU1, 1.04 (0.76–1.42) and 1.07 (0.68–1.67) in FU2, and 0.73 (0.53–1.03) and 0.61 (0.37–1.02) in FU3, respectively. Corresponding results for MD2 were 0.90 (0.70–1.15) and 1.03 (0.69–1.53) in FU1, 1.16 (0.82–1.63) and 1.40 (0.81–2.41) in FU2, and 0.93 (0.65–1.34) and 0.55 (0.28–1.08) in FU3. Conclusion: We found no association between Mediterranean diet adherence and T2D in a non-Mediterranean population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)

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19 pages, 541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Intervention on Overweight and Obesity after Confinement by COVID-19

by José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent, Pilar Tomás-Gil, Pau Martí-Lliteras, Josep Lluis Coll Villalonga, Emilio Martínez-Almoyna Rifá and Ángel Arturo López-González

Nutrients 2023, 15(4), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15040912 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3036

Abstract

Background: Obesity has become a public health problem in our society and is associated with many diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, respiratory diseases, and cancer. Several studies relate weight loss in obese patients to improved anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic risk. The objective of our study was to evaluate anthropometric changes, analytical parameters, insulin resistance, fatty liver, and metabolic scales, after a personalized weight loss program, through dietary advice to increase adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a motivational booster via mobile SMS messaging. Methods: Intervention study on a sample of 1964 workers, in which different anthropometric parameters were evaluated before and after dietary intervention: the metabolic score of insulin resistance; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using different scales; metabolic syndrome; atherogenic dyslipidemia; and the cardiometabolic index. A descriptive analysis of the categorical variables was performed, by calculating the frequency and distribution of the responses for each one. For quantitative variables, the mean and standard deviation were calculated, since they followed a normal distribution. Bivariate association analysis was performed by applying the chi-squared test (corrected by Fisher’s exact statistic when conditions required it) and Student’s t-test for independent samples (for comparison of means). Results: The population subjected to the Mediterranean diet improved in all the variables evaluated at 12 months of follow-up and compliance with the diet. Conclusions: Dietary advice on a Mediterranean diet and its reinforcement with reminder messages through the use of mobile phones may be useful to improve the parameters evaluated in this study and reduce the cardiometabolic risk of patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)

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18 pages, 1547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antileukemic, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Healing Activities Induced by a Polyphenol-Enriched Fraction Extracted from Leaves of Myrtus communis L.

by Hamza Mechchate, Carlos Eduardo de Castro Alves, Imane Es-safi, Amal Amaghnouje, Fatima Zahra Jawhari, Regiane Costa de Oliveira, Alice de Freitas Gomes, Raffaele Conte, Gemilson Soares Pontes, Dalila Bousta and Andriy Grafov

Nutrients 2022, 14(23), 5055; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235055 - 27 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

Natural products have offered a number of exciting approaches in cancer treatment over the years. In this study, we investigated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of the polyphenol-enriched fraction extracted from Myrtus communis (PEMC) on acute and chronic leukemia. According to the UHPLC-MSⁿ, the fraction is rich in flavonoids. Protective activity of the PEMC was assessed by evaluating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and hemolysis potential in a series of in vivo and in vitro assays, while the therapeutic approach consisted of the evaluation of cytotoxic activity of the PEMC against HL60 and K562 leukemia cell lines. Safety of the fraction was also evaluated on a non-cancerous Vero cell line and by an acute toxicity test performed in mice. The PEMC demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory and healing potential. The activities found at the dose of 100 mg/kg were better than those observed using a reference drug. The PEMC demonstrated a significant antioxidant effect and a specific cytotoxicity towards HL60 (IC₅₀ = 19.87 µM) and K562 (IC₅₀ = 29.64 µM) cell lines being non-toxic to the Vero cell line. No hemolytic activity was observed in vitro and no toxicity effect was found in mice. Thus, the PEMC has a pharmacological potential as both preventive and therapeutic agent. However, further research is necessary to propose its mechanism of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)

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16 pages, 8209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Partial Substitution of Glucose with Xylitol Prolongs Survival and Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Glycolysis of Mice Bearing Orthotopic Xenograft of Oral Cancer

by Yuraporn Sahasakul, Wannee Angkhasirisap, Aroonwan Lam-ubol, Amornrat Aursalung, Daisuke Sano, Kentaro Takada and Dunyaporn Trachootham

Nutrients 2022, 14(10), 2023; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14102023 - 11 May 2022

Viewed by 2915

Abstract

Many types of cancer have metabolic alterations with increased glycolysis. Identification of alternative sweeteners that do not fuel cancer is a novel approach to cancer control. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of xylitol on tumor growth and survival of mice bearing orthotopic xenograft of tongue cancers. The results showed that partial substitution of glucose with xylitol (glucose 0.35 g plus xylitol 2.06 g/kg body weight) non-significantly reduced tumor volume, and significantly prolonged the median survival time from 19 days in the control to 30.5 days in the xylitol group. Immunohistochemical data of the tongue tissue shows significantly lower intense-to-mild staining ratios of the proliferation marker Ki-67 in the xylitol than those of the control group (p = 0.04). Furthermore, the xylitol substitution significantly reduced the expression of the rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme, phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) (p = 0.03), and showed a non-significant inhibition of PFK activity. In summary, partial substitution of glucose with xylitol at the equivalent dose to human household use of 10 g/day slows down tumor proliferation and prolongs survival of mice bearing an orthotopic oral cancer xenograft, possibly through glycolytic inhibition, with minimal adverse events. The insight warrants clinical studies to confirm xylitol as a candidate sweetener in food products for cancer survivors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet, Nutraceuticals and Bioactive Foods: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)

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