Mediterranean diet improves cardiometabolic health in children

Last week, researchers in JAMA Network Open released a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies with 577 participants, revealing that Mediterranean diet interventions effectively improve cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.

The Mediterranean diet is plant-based and focuses on whole grains, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, herbs, and spices. Additionally, individuals who follow this diet consume fish or seafood at least twice a week, minimizing their consumption of dairy products, poultry, and eggs. This diet also emphasizes little to no consumption of red meat.

In this study, the researchers analyzed randomized clinical trials that promoted the Mediterranean diet in their interventions and analyzed cardiometabolic biomarkers, including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance.

According to the study, Mediterranean diet-based interventions reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 4.75 mm Hg. Additionally, triglyceride levels declined by an average of 16.42 mg/dL with a Mediterranean diet intervention.

Furthermore, the researchers found that dietary interventions reduced total cholesterol by 9.06 mg/dL on average. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, sometimes called “bad cholesterol,” levels declined by 10.48 mg/dL for pediatric patients on the Mediterranean diet, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, sometimes called “good cholesterol,” levels increased by 2.24 mg/dL on average.

“These results underscore the importance of promoting healthy eating habits in youths, as these habits may lead to substantially improved cardiometabolic health, even during the early stages of life. Specifically, MedDiet-based interventions in different contexts (e.g., schools, hospitals) may be a valuable tool for optimizing cardiometabolic health in the younger population,” concluded researchers in the publication.

The Mediterranean diet has been linked to multiple improvements in health outcomes, including reduced type 2 diabetes rates, improved cognitive function, better respiratory health, and generally better cardiovascular health.

Data, such as the ones from this study, underscore the importance of a healthy diet that prioritizes plant-based nutrition. Understanding the health impacts of a Mediterranean diet among pediatric patients can help guide pediatric health outcomes.