Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Cardiometabolic Health of Youth: JAMA Study

In a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers assessed the effects of MedDiet-based interventions on biomarkers of cardiometabolic health among children and adolescents.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention should begin early in life due to strong links between childhood risk factors and later CVD. In 2020, around 3% of children and 5% of adolescents had metabolic syndrome, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions to improve cardiometabolic health.

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), known for its health benefits, uses olive oil as the main fat source and includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts, while limiting red and processed meats, ultra-processed foods, sweets, and pastries. Moderate consumption of white meats and fish is also recommended. The MedDiet has been shown to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases like cancer, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and CVD. Additionally, adherence to the MedDiet is linked to lower mortality rates and has been shown to reduce BMI and obesity rates in children and adolescents.

For the study, four electronic databases were searched to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on cardiometabolic biomarkers in children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years). Key biomarkers included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The effect sizes were measured by the mean differences in biomarker levels between the intervention and control groups.

The results indicated that Mediterranean diet (MedDiet)-based interventions can reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) while increasing HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) in children and adolescents.

Despite modest reductions, decreases in SBP during childhood and adolescence are significant as they correlate with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adulthood. Improved lipid profiles (lower TGs, TC, LDL-C, and higher HDL-C) suggested a reduced risk of atherosclerosis and CVDs later in life.

While observational studies on MedDiet and cardiometabolic health in young individuals show mixed results, the reviewed randomized controlled trial provided evidence for the diet's beneficial impact on cardiometabolic biomarkers.

Reference: López-Gil JF, García-Hermoso A, Martínez-González MÁ, Rodríguez-Artalejo F. Mediterranean Diet and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421976. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21976