The Mediterranean diet
Science and practice
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15090519 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Walter C Willett (0000-0003-1458-7597, Harvard University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 1a |
| Pages | 105-110 |
| Publication date | 2006-02-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Health Nutrition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1079/phn2005931 |
| PMID | 16512956 |
| OpenAlex | W2136010754 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 21 |
| References cited | 32 |
Objective To provide an overview of research relevant to the Mediterranean diet. Design Personal perspectives. Setting International. Subject Populations in Europe, North America, Asia. Results Approximately 50 years ago, Keys and colleagues described strikingly low rates of coronary heart disease in the Mediterranean region, where fat intake was relatively high but largely from olive oil. Subsequent controlled feeding studies have shown that compared to carbohydrate, both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats reduce LDL and triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol. Importantly, these beneficial metabolic effects are greater in the presence of underlying insulin resistance. In a detailed analysis within the Nurses' Health Study, trans fat from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (absent in traditional Mediterranean diets) was most strongly related to risk of heart disease, and both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat were inversely associated with risk. Epidemiologic evidence has also supported beneficial effects of higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and daily consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol. Together with regular physical activity and not smoking, our analyses suggest that over 80% of coronary heart disease, 70% of stroke, and 90% of type 2 diabetes can be avoided by healthy food choices that are consistent with the traditional Mediterranean diet. Conclusion Both epidemiologic and metabolic studies suggest that individuals can benefit greatly by adopting elements of Mediterranean diets
Biology · Cholesterol · Coronary heart disease · Diabetes mellitus · Disease · Environmental health · Fatty acid · Insulin resistance · Mediterranean climate · Mediterranean diet · Olive oil · Polyunsaturated fat · Polyunsaturated fatty acid · Saturated fat · Type 2 diabetes · Diet and metabolism studies · Fatty Acid Research and Health · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Ecology · Endocrinology · Food Science · Internal Medicine
Trial to Encourage Adoption and Maintenance of a Mediterranean Diet (Team-MED)
Efficacy of Flaxseed Supplementation on Nutrient Intake and Other Lifestyle Pattern in Menopausal Diabetic Females
A qualitative analysis exploring preferred methods of peer support to encourage adherence to a Mediterranean diet in a Northern European population at high risk of cardiovascular disease
Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status
School Menu Review Programme (PReME)
Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Youths Living in Rural and Semi-Urban Albania in the Ongoing Nutrition Transition
A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of the Archena Infancia Saludable Project on 24-h Movement Behaviors and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Schoolchildren
Determinants of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet
Evaluation of a school intervention to improve adherence to the Mediterranean Diet
Navigating uncertain waters
Nutrition, agriculture and the global food system in low and middle income countries
Sustainable food systems—a health perspective
Antioxidant and inflammatory potential of diet among women at risk of cervical cancer
Update on fruit antioxidant capacity
Evaluation of the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (Kidmed) in children and adolescents in Southern Spain
Availability of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean foods during the last four decades
Towards health-promoting and environmentally friendly regional diets – a Nordic example
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Cyprus and its relationship to multi-morbidity
The future of the Mediterranean agri-food systems
If You're Not Allowed to Have Rice, What do you have with your Curry
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in Chilean university students
Seven Countries
Nutritional Epidemiology
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Weight Gain, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Young and Middle-Aged Women
Diet, Lifestyle, and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women
Diet quality and major chronic disease risk in men and women
Trends and Disparities in Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Other Cardiovascular Diseases in the United States
Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women through Diet and Lifestyle
Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and Survival in a Greek Population
Dietary fat intake does affect obesity!
| Citations per year | 1.05 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2006 - 2025 (20) |
| Highly cited | No |