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The increase of life expectancy has led populations around the world to continue to age remarkably. In parallel with population aging, frailty, which is a geriatric syndrome characterized by reduced strength and endurance and lessened physiological functioning, is increasing. Apart from the high prevalence of frailty, it is also of great importance due to its dire consequences: increased risk of multimorbidity, falls and fractures, disability, hospitalizations, institutionalizations, and mortality. In this sense, a recent meta-analysis updated the information on the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and frailty. The study confirms a robust association between higher adherence to the MedDiet and reduced risk of frailty. In addition, the authors suggest that the abundant consumption of vegetables and fruits as well as the use of olive oil as the main source of fat, which are both key components of the MedDiet, could explain the observed benefit. Based on these results the authors conclude that the MedDiet could greatly contribute to reducing incident frailty.
Two of the main biological mechanisms through which the MedDiet likely exerts its favorable effects on health are the lipid-lowering effects and anti-inflammatory properties. However, few studies have evaluated whether changes in adherence to the MedDiet modifies cardiovascular and inflammation markers over time. In a prospective cohort study an increased adherence to the MedDiet was related to decreased levels in an inflammatory score but not with changes in a cardiovascular risk score compared with individuals who had decreased their adherence to the MedDiet over a median period of 12.7 years. Moreover, an increased intake of monounsaturated fatty acids over saturated fatty acids was inversely associated with the cardiovascular risk score, whereas increased cereal consumption was associated with a lower inflammatory score, compared with the reduced intake group. These findings suggest that the promotion of MedDiet is an open opportunity to reduce low-grade inflammation, a condition widely associated with chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
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