Recent research by an international team of scientists has found that children and adolescents can reap health benefits similar to those experienced by adults when adopting a Mediterranean diet.
The study involved researchers from the University of the Americas in Ecuador, the Navarra Health Research Institute in Spain, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the United States. Their findings were published in JAMA Open Network.
The research is based on a meta-analysis of nine clinical trials, which included data from 577 children with an average age of 11. Approximately 60% of the participants were girls. Among the studies, six focused on children with overweight, one on those with prediabetes, while the remaining two included children of normal weight to serve as control groups. All participants followed a Mediterranean diet during the follow-up period.
Understanding prediabetes is crucial: it is defined as a serious health condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The authors of the study emphasized the rising acknowledgment of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and its health benefits compared to various healthy dietary patterns. They described this diet as being characterized by the use of olive oil as the primary fat and a high consumption of seasonal fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts, all while limiting red and processed meats, ultra-processed sweets, and pastries. A moderate intake of lean white meats and fish is also part of this diet. Evidence suggests that the MedDiet can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
The results indicated that children adhering to the Mediterranean diet for at least eight weeks showed improvements in blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. Additionally, there was a noted increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. These outcomes imply that the Mediterranean diet could effectively enhance certain biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in young people, according to the experts involved in the study.
Despite these positive findings, the diet did not lead to significant improvements in insulin resistance or glucose metabolism. Researchers speculate that such changes might require more time to manifest. Nonetheless, the authors concluded that the Mediterranean diet remains a healthy choice for most children and adolescents, promoting cardiometabolic health from an early age.
The meta-analysis conducted by the research team included data from various clinical trials across different regions and contexts. Each study was designed to assess the impact of the Mediterranean diet on various health parameters among children and adolescents. The diversity of the analyzed studies offers a more comprehensive understanding of the potential effects of this diet on young populations.
From a practical perspective, scientists suggest that parents and healthcare professionals should consider the Mediterranean diet as a viable option for improving children’s health. Incorporating more fresh and less processed foods into daily diets could yield long-term positive effects, helping to prevent chronic diseases from an early age.
While the study highlights favorable outcomes, the authors acknowledged certain limitations, including the relatively short duration of the trials and variability among the studied populations. They emphasized that future longitudinal studies would be valuable for confirming the long-term benefits of the Mediterranean diet in children and adolescents.
The authors stressed the importance of starting cardiovascular disease prevention early in life, as there is substantial evidence linking atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors during childhood to the emergence of these conditions later in life. They noted that lifestyle factors, particularly diet, play a critical role in cardiometabolic health. Unhealthy eating patterns have been linked to cardiometabolic disorders in children and adolescents, while a diet rich in unprocessed or minimally processed foods could lead to positive health outcomes, including lower body weight, reduced body fat, smaller waist circumference, lower blood pressure, and decreased insulin levels.
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