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Mediterranean Diet adherence and wellbeing: a preliminary analysis of the MedWalk trial
- E.L. Bracci, C.R. Davis, K.J. Murphy
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E95
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- Article
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Diet and diet quality have been linked to improvements to psychosocial health and wellbeing(1). However, data from national health surveys indicate that most Australian’s have poor diet quality and consume a Western style diet high in saturated fat, discretionary foods and added sugars and salt(2). The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), a predominantly plant-based diet rich in bioactive foods and nutrients, has been shown to improve mood and wellbeing. However, long-term effects beyond 6-months have not been thoroughly explored in older adults. MedWalk compares a 12-month MedDiet and Walking intervention with habitual lifestyle (HabDiet) in 160 older adults residing in retirement villages across South Australia and Victoria. Data from the South Australian cohort at baseline (n = 83) and 6-months (n = 74) are presented in this preliminary analysis.
To determine dietary compliance, participants completed the 14-point MedDiet Adherence (MEDAS) questionnaire which assesses the intake of key MedDiet foods such as legumes, fish, and extra virgin olive oil; higher scores reflect higher adherence. Wellbeing was assessed using the Flourishing Index, which assesses life satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, happiness, mental and physical health. The total flourishing score includes 10 questions with a maximum of 100 points reflecting highest flourishing, while the secure flourishing score includes two additional questions related to safety, housing, and access to food with a maximum of 120 points to indicate highest flourishing. Group and time interactions for MEDAS and flourishing scores were analysed using linear mixed effects modelling. There were no significant differences between groups for MEDAS score at baseline (MedDiet 5.78 ± 0.34 vs HabDiet 5.74 ± 0.32). At 6 months, the MedDiet group had significantly increased their MEDAS by 4.16 points (P<0.001), (MedDiet 10.0 ± 0.42 vs HabDiet (5.85 ± 0.39). At baseline there were no significant differences between groups for the total 10-point flourishing score (MedDiet 83.5 ± 2.01 vs HabDiet 82.1 ± 2.0) or 12-point secure flourishing score (MedDiet 100.6 ± 2.2 vs HabDiet 100.4 ± 2.2). At 6 months there was a significant between-group difference in total flourishing index scores with a mean difference of 6.97 points in the MedDiet group (MedDiet 85.8 ± 1.9 vs HabDiet 78.8 ± 1.8, P = 0.010). Similarly, the secure flourishing index score was 6.18 points higher in the MedDiet group compared to the HabDiet at 6-months (MedDiet 102.9 ± 2.2 vs HabDiet 96.8 ± 2.07, P = 0.046). Adhering to a MedDiet and walking intervention may lead to positive improvements to wellbeing in an older population. The flourishing index may need to be compared with other wellbeing questionnaires and instruments to better understand the relationship between wellbeing and MedDiet adherence as there was a cross-sectional association but no positive correlation at 6-months.
The nutritional adequacy of popular weight loss diets - do they meet the requirements for dairy foods and calcium?
- K.J. Murphy, A. O’Connor, E.L. Bracci
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E41
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- Article
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- You have access Access
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Weight loss or fad diets are often promoted for rapid weight loss and by unqualified individuals and celebrities. There is sometimes limited information around the nutritional adequacy of the diet. Some diets require fasting, some modify macronutrient composition, and some restrict food groups, such as dairy foods, resulting in suboptimal intake of nutrients like calcium, potentially leading to nutrient deficiencies and disease such as osteoporosis if followed long-term. We assessed the total dairy food and calcium content of five popular weight loss diets (Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic, Optifast, Paleolithic, 8 Weeks to Wow; 8WW), and two government recommended healthy eating principles (Australian Guide to Healthy Eating; AGHE, and Mediterranean diet; MedDiet, for weight loss). Meal plans from each diet were analysed using Foodworks Dietary Software and compared with government recommendations and dietary reference values (DRV) in Australia, the United States and Ireland to give the percentage of the recommended intake of dairy food and calcium, met by each diet(1). Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic and AGHE provided the most serves of dairy foods with 2.8, 2.3 and 2.2 serves/d, respectively, whilst 8WW, MedDiet, and Optifast provided 1.4, 1.3 and 1 serve/d each, respectively, and Paleolithic 0.02 serves/d. None of the dietary patterns met all government recommendations for dairy serves. Milk was the most common source of dairy food in all dietary patterns except for Ketogenic (cheese), MedDiet (yoghurt) and Paleolithic. The Ketogenic diet provided the highest calcium content (1293mg/d), followed by Intermittent Fasting (1230mg/d) and Optifast (1212mg/d). Non-dairy sources contributed to 93% of the calcium content (385mg/d) of the Paleolithic diet, 70% for Optifast and 61% in the MedDiet (631mg/d). None of the dietary pattens met all dietary reference values for calcium. There are no universal dietary recommendations for dairy foods or calcium, making cross country comparisons of dietary recommendations difficult. Only the Intermittent Fasting diet met the dietary recommendations in Australia for dairy serves for males 19-70 and females 19-50 years. None of the other diets met any recommendation for Australia, the US and Ireland. Most dietary patterns met the estimated average requirement for age and gender, for calcium for Australia, the US and Ireland, apart from the Paleolithic diet which eliminates dairy foods and the MedDiet which is naturally low in dairy foods. These data indicate that several popular weight-loss diets do not meet dietary recommendations for dairy foods or calcium. Therefore, when considering a weight loss diet or dietary pattern, it is crucial to consider the nutritional adequacy, to ensure macro and micronutrient requirements are met for health and avoidance of nutritional deficiencies, particularly if followed long-term.