Mediterranean diet may help lower inflammation in older adults, Study finds

Previous studies that investigated a variety of inflammation indicators other than CRP showed mixed results with regard to the relation between the Mediterranean dietary pattern and inflammation in older adults.

The present study is a systematic review basically aimed to explore the association between the Mediterranean dietary pattern and inflammation in older adults. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed for the study. A literature search of seven electronic databases was conducted including those from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and ProQuest, the authors from the Center for Long-term Care Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan wrote.

The quality of the methodology laid out in the study was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The overall standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CIs were estimated in random-effects meta-analyses.

The systematic review included thirteen studies that were included because of their acceptable quality. These were- 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 1 quasi-experimental study, 1 cohort study, and 8 cross-sectional studies. In the study, the circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was the most common inflammation indicator used.

Kuei-Min Chen, PhD, RN, FAAN and colleagues noted that a significant inverse association was found between the Mediterranean dietary pattern and inflammation as assessed by CRP (SMD = −0.26; 95% CI: −0.41, −0.11; P < 0.001), based on the meta-analysis done on 5 cross-sectional studies.

"The studies with participants older than 65 years showed the prevalence of inflammation between 33% and 50%," Chen said.

These studies included more than 15,000 participants aged 60 years and older; all but one study was conducted in the United States or Europe and most of the participants were women. Previous studies had primarily focused on younger adults, according to the researchers.

Therefore, based on the above findings the researchers then concluded that "Our findings suggest that the Mediterranean dietary pattern may be associated with lower inflammation in older adults. However, more long-term RCTs are required to demonstrate the effects of the Mediterranean dietary pattern on multiple inflammation parameters in older adults."

For further reference log on to:

W P-Y, et al. Adv Nutr. 2020;doi:10.1093/advances/nmaa116.