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Mediterranean Diet: Health Benefits and Sustainability

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 1368

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Group of Investigation in Interactions Gene-Environment and Health (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, Leon, Spain
2. CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
Interests: dietary patterns; environmental sustainability; cardiovascular disease; mediterranean diet; metabolism; cancer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Group of Investigation in Interactions Gene-Environment and Health (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, Leon, Spain
2. CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
Interests: nutrition; diet; mediterranean diet; environmental sustainability; dietary consumption; cardiovascular; cancer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The rapid increase in the world's population will mean increasing food production, with the associated environmental impact that this entails. As food systems are responsible for one third of greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of freshwater use, and up to 80% of global deforestation, different dietary patterns play a role not only in terms of health, but also in relation to environmental sustainability.

The Mediterranean Diet is recognized for its numerous benefits for cardiovascular health and the prevention of chronic diseases.  Moreover, as it reduces the intake of animal products and promotes biodiversity, this dietary pattern is expected to benefit environmental sustainability. The benefits of the Mediterranean Diet seem to come from its richness in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules, largely derived from plant foods. It is these same plant foods that give the Mediterranean diet a lower environmental impact, positioning the Mediterranean Diet as one  possible diet for the control of chronic diseases and climate change.

The aim of this Special Issue, “Mediterranean Diet: Health Benefits and Sustainability”, is thus to focus on the health and sustainability benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Maria Rubín-García
Dr. Laura Álvarez-Álvarez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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
  • dietary patterns
  • healthy dietary pattern
  • environmental sustainability
  • environmental footprint
  • climate change

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 431 KiB  
Article
Adherence to the Planetary Health Diet and Its Association with Diet Quality and Environmental Outcomes in Croatian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Gordana Kenđel Jovanović, Greta Krešić, Elena Dujmić and Sandra Pavičić Žeželj
Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111850 - 29 May 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: University students are at a critical life stage in terms of establishing lifelong dietary habits, yet little is known about the sustainability of their diets, especially in Croatia. This study aimed to assess the sustainability and environmental impacts of university students’ dietary [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: University students are at a critical life stage in terms of establishing lifelong dietary habits, yet little is known about the sustainability of their diets, especially in Croatia. This study aimed to assess the sustainability and environmental impacts of university students’ dietary patterns at the University of Rijeka using the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) and to explore the associations with demographic, lifestyle, nutritional, and environmental variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024 among 224 students (54% male, mean age 22.7 ± 2.2 years). Data collection included sociodemographic information, physical activity, and dietary intake (semi-quantitative FFQ). Diet quality was assessed using the PHDI, Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and Dietary Inflammatory Index. Environmental impact indicators (carbon, water, and ecological footprints) were calculated using energy-adjusted intake data and standardized life cycle assessment data. Results: Students exhibited moderate adherence to the Planetary Health Diet (mean PHDI: 55.5). Higher PHDI scores were significantly associated with vigorous physical activity, higher MDS, and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns (all p < 0.001). Despite male students showing slightly higher PHDI scores, their diets had significantly greater environmental impacts. A one-point increase in the PHDI correlated with smaller environmental footprints (carbon: β = −7.94; water: β = −13.88; ecological: β = −3.15; all p < 0.001), with a significant decrease observed particularly in the lowest- and highest-adherence groups, while no consistent or significant effects were found in the intermediate groups. The nutrient and food group analysis supported the health-promoting profile of diets aligned with the PHDI. Conclusions: This study highlights the moderate sustainability of students’ diets, with significant associations between diet quality and environmental impacts. University settings present key opportunities for the promotion of sustainable, health-oriented eating behaviors among young adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health Benefits and Sustainability)
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16 pages, 653 KiB  
Systematic Review
Mediterranean Diet, Obesity-Related Metabolic Cardiovascular Disorders, and Environmental Sustainability: A Systematic Review
by Sergio Rodríguez Núñez, María Rubín-García, Vicente Martín-Sánchez, Laura Álvarez-Álvarez and Antonio José Molina
Nutrients 2025, 17(12), 2005; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17122005 - 15 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Introduction: This article aims to provide an updated overview of the scientific knowledge regarding the interplay between the Mediterranean diet (MedD), sustainability, and cardiovascular and metabolic health. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, succeeded by a narrative synthesis of [...] Read more.
Introduction: This article aims to provide an updated overview of the scientific knowledge regarding the interplay between the Mediterranean diet (MedD), sustainability, and cardiovascular and metabolic health. Methodology: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, succeeded by a narrative synthesis of data extracted from original research articles in English and Spanish. These articles, indexed in the Scopus and PubMed databases from inception to 31 December 2024, addressed the relationship between MedD, sustainability, and cardiovascular and metabolic health. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed for bias using the JBI critical appraisal tools. This review was registered in PROSPERO (ID CRD42024476408). Results: The search identified 11 relevant articles. A primary focus on obesity was evident (nine articles), followed by chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome (two articles each), and cardiovascular health (one article). Regarding sustainability, climate change was the most frequently addressed concern (eight articles). Discussion: A clear trend emerged, indicating a direct association between environmental sustainability, positive health outcomes, and adherence to the MedD. These findings underscore the benefits of the MedD, demonstrating its potential not only to reduce the environmental impact but also to improve health markers such as BMI, metabolic syndrome risk, and chronic inflammation levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mediterranean Diet: Health Benefits and Sustainability)
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