Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower abdominal adiposity in European men and women.

J Nutr 2009;139:1728-37

Romaguera D, Norat T, Mouw T, May AM, Bamia C, Slimani N, Travier N, Besson H, Luan J, Wareham N, Rinaldi S, Couto E, Clavel-Chapelon F, Boutron-Ruault MC, Cottet V, Palli D, Agnoli C, Panico S, Tumino R, Vineis P, Agudo A, Rodriguez L, Sanchez MJ, Amiano P, Barricarte A, Huerta JM, Key TJ, Spencer EA, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Büchner FL, Orfanos P, Naska A, Trichopoulou A, Rohrmann S, Kaaks R, Bergmann M, Boeing H, Johansson I, Hellstrom V, Manjer J, Wirfält E, Uhre Jacobsen M, Overvad K, Tjonneland A, Halkjaer J, Lund E, Braaten T, Engeset D, Odysseos A, Riboli E, Peeters PH

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This study examined the relationship between Mediterranean dietary patterns and abdominal adiposity in a sample of 497 308 European men and women. A modified Mediterranean diet score (mMDS) was used which included a high consumption of fruits and vegetables, nuts, cereals, fish and seafood, unsaturated fat, moderate alcool intake and low consumption of meat and dairy products. The mMDS was not significantly associated with BMI. However, for a given BMI, higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower waist circumference (WC). This association was even stronger in men and women from the Northern European countries. Despite the heterogeneity of the association of mMDS with BMI and WC across the European countries, the study found that the Mediterranean diet is associated with a healthier body fat distribution.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower abdominal adiposity in European men and women.

J Nutr 2009;139:1728-37

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