Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, Theme 10.
Funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.3, Theme 10.
Extending worldwide the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
Highlights
Coordinator
To identify innovative models of a Mediterranean diet aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable nutrition in different age and socioeconomic range populations and assessing the efficacy of a new model of Mediterranean diet using adequate preclinical and clinical models (in connection with spoke 6).
Promotion of the new Mediterranean diet-based models using multiple dissemination, communication strategies, targeting also "family nutrition" based on the Mediterranean diet suitable for all members of the family, among school children and adolescents (in connection with Spoke 7).
A systematic review of existing available models of Mediterranean diet (M12)
Report on the development and validation of a new sustainable Mediterranean diet model (M24)
Publication of informative material and public and virtual events (M12)
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) lead to a dramatic burden on morbidity and mortality worldwide. Diet is a modifiable risk factor for NCDs, with Mediterranean Diet (MD) being one of the most effective dietary strategies to reduce diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Nevertheless, MD transferability to non-Mediterranean is challenging and requires a shared path between the scientific community and stakeholders.
Planeterranea is the name conceived for this project aiming to identify a healthy dietary pattern based on food products available in the different areas of the world with the nutritional properties of MD. An extensive literature search will be performed to retrieve information on healthy local foods in different macro-areas (North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Australia). The information will be used to develop specific “nutritional pyramids” based on the foods available in the macro-areas presenting the same nutritional properties and health benefits of MD.
1) Insights of the contribution to the main foods characterizing MD for the prevention of NCDs.
2) Characterization of foods and beverages to be used as substitutions for MD foods.
3) Development of new nutritional pyramids to be used in other countries.
