Protective mechanisms of the Mediterranean diet in obesity and type 2 diabetes

The prevalence of obesity has grown to an alarming level of at least 300 million people worldwide. Additionally, a diabetes epidemic is underway, with an estimate of 217 million people with diabetes worldwide. There are many links between excessive body weight and type 2 diabetes, and one common and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2007-03, Vol.18 (3), p.149-160
Main Author: Schroder, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol Drinking
Antioxidants - administration & dosage
Biological and medical sciences
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control
diet
Diet, Mediterranean
Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage
Dietary Fats - administration & dosage
Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage
Dietary pattern
eating habits
Energy density
Energy Intake
epidemiological studies
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Flavonoids - administration & dosage
Food Analysis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
glycemic effect
health promotion
Humans
Magnesium - administration & dosage
Mediterranean diet
noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Obesity
Obesity - epidemiology
Obesity - prevention & control
Olive Oil
overweight
Phenols - administration & dosage
Plant Oils - administration & dosage
Polyphenols
Satiety Response
traditional foods
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
weight control
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Summary:The prevalence of obesity has grown to an alarming level of at least 300 million people worldwide. Additionally, a diabetes epidemic is underway, with an estimate of 217 million people with diabetes worldwide. There are many links between excessive body weight and type 2 diabetes, and one common and fundamental cause of both epidemics is an unhealthy diet. Research to identify and promote diets that protect individuals from obesity and type 2 diabetes is urgently needed. The Mediterranean diet, a concept developed in the 1950s, refers to dietary habits of individuals from the Mediterranean basin. The Mediterranean diet is an eating pattern that successfully combines pleasant taste and positive health effects. The Mediterranean diet does not stand for a homogenous and exclusive model among the Mediterranean basin population but rather represents a set of healthy dietary habits, including high consumption of vegetables and fresh fruits and the use of olive oil as the main source of fat. Evidence from epidemiological studies supports a protective effect of this dietary pattern on weight gain and the development of type 2 diabetes. Several mechanistic explanations link characteristic components of the Mediterranean diet with obesity and type 2 diabetes. This review will discuss potential mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet protects individuals from both diseases.
ISSN:0955-2863
1873-4847
DOI:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2006.05.006