An approach to innovative and sustainable mediterranean diet model

The gut microbiota plays a fundamental role in human health and disease, and the diet is capable to regulate specific microbial populations and their metabolic activities influencing human health (celiac disease, food allergies, diabetes, obesity, cancer). Evidence demonstrates that high-level adherence to a Mediterranean diet has strong associations with gut microbiome composition and functionality.  In addition, the beneficial effects of non-nutrient components of foods on human health became a field of increasing importance in the last decades. Clinical and experimental studies have found that the introduction in the diet of supplements enriched with bioactive compounds could target specific microbial activities with a deep impact both on the gut microbial balance as well as human health. From a consumer perspective, supplements are gaining prominence and becoming a part of the average daily diet.

We propose: 

• to implement a systematic review of existing available models of Mediterranean diet;
• to perform a nutritional intervention on a population of adults at high/moderate risk of developing metabolic diseases. The nutritional intervention will test the effectiveness of a new model of Mediterranean diet enriched with a formulation of non-nutrient food components possessing functional activities in improving the health of the gut microbiota. The bioactive ingredients employed will be obtained from biomass residues supporting the principles of circular bio-economy;
• to develop a questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge of Mediterranean diet.
  dissemination and communication of research results will be considered an integral part of the project.

The expected outcomes of this activity will include:

• publication of a systematic review of existing available models of Mediterranean diet;
• implementation of a nutritional intervention based on a Mediterranean diet model, accessible and with a low environmental impact;
• administration of a questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge of Mediterranean diet to study the population;
• dissemination and publication of the research results.