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The Mediterranean diet (MD) and its main component, extra virgin olive oil, have many beneficial health effects. Previous evidence has shown that the MD is one of the best diets for healthy ageing in terms of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this context, a recent randomized trial aimed to investigate the effects of exercise and MD adherence during pregnancy on placental telomere length. The shortening of placental telomere length is a progressive process during pregnancy, but it can be accelerated by factors such as oxidative stress, which could lead to pregnancy complications. The results showed that exercise alone had no significant effect on placental telomere length. However, women who followed a Mediterranean Diet during pregnancy and exercised had longer placental telomere length than those who did not follow the diet. This suggests that a combination of exercise and a Mediterranean Diet during pregnancy may help prevent shortening of placental telomere length.
In the same vein, a longitudinal analysis was carried out as part of the PREDIMED study. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the MD by measuring urinary polyphenol excretion. The conclusion of this paper was that the MD, which is rich in polyphenols, has anti-inflammatory effects that can improve the metabolic syndrome status. Furthermore, urinary polyphenols may be a potential biomarker of anti-inflammatory effects and adherence to the MD in women. Therefore, consumption of polyphenols from the MD was found to improve metabolic syndrome status in both men and women. Finally, the study highlighted the importance of consuming a diet rich in polyphenols, such as the Mediterranean diet, to reduce chronic inflammation, improve metabolic syndrome status and overall health.
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