Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall diet quality effects, mainly on antioxidant nutritional status and some cytokines related to the cellular immune response as well as oxidative stress in a healthy Italian population group. Methods: An observational study was conducted on 131 healthy free-living subjects. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Standardised procedures were used to make anthropometric measurements. On blood samples (serum, plasma and whole blood) were evaluated: antioxidant status by vitamin A, vitamin E, carotenoids, vitamin C, uric acid, SH groups, SOD and GPx activities; lipid blood profile by total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides; total antioxidant capacity by FRAP and TRAP; the immune status by TNF-alpha, and IL -10 cytokines; the levels of malondialdehyde in the erythrocytes as marker of lipid peroxidation. Results: The daily macronutrients intake (g/day) have shown a high lipids consumption and significant differences between the sexes with regard to daily micronutrients intake. On total sample mean Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) was 4.5 +/- 1.6 and no significant differences between the sexes were present. A greater adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern increase the circulating plasma levels of carotenoids (lutein plus zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, and -carotene), vitamin A and vitamin E. The levels of endogenous antioxidants were also improved. We observed higher levels in anti-inflammatory effect cytokines (IL-10) in subjects with MDS [greater than or equal to] 6, by contrast, subjects with MDS [less than or equal to] 3 show higher levels in sense of proinflammatory (TNF P<0.05) . Lower levels of MDA were associated with MDS >4. Our data suggest a protective role of vitamin A against chronic inflammatory conditions especially in subjects with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean-type dietary pattern. Conclusions: Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with significant amelioration of multiple risk factors, including a better cardiovascular risk profile, reduced oxidative stress and modulation of inflammation.
CITATION STYLE
E., A., A., P., A., F., F., I., E., V., A., D., … G., M. (2011). Mediterranean Diet Effect: An Italian picture. Nutrition Journal, 125. Retrieved from http://www.embase.com/search/results?subaction=viewrecord&from=export&id=L51721119
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