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VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 3--4 ( July-December, 2023 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Through the Mediterranean Way of Life to a Healthier Brain

Vida Demarin, Jasna Badzak, Zivko Miscevic, Filip Derke

Keywords : Brain health, Mediterranean diet, Stroke

Citation Information : Demarin V, Badzak J, Miscevic Z, Derke F. Through the Mediterranean Way of Life to a Healthier Brain. 2023; 2 (3--4):123-130.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-11005-0061

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 28-12-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is usually consumed among the populations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, representing a model of healthy eating, favorable health status, and better quality of life. Several studies demonstrated the beneficial and preventive role of the MD in the occurrence of many diseases. Therefore, some of them support the favorable effects of the MD on plasma lipid profile: reduction of total and plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, plasma triglyceride levels, apolipoprotein B, and very-LDL concentrations, and an increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. This effect is associated with increased plasma antioxidant capacity, improved endothelial function, reduced insulin resistance, and reduced incidence of metabolic syndrome. The beneficial impact of fish consumption on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is the result of the synergistic effects of nutrients in fish. Fish is considered an excellent source of protein with low saturated fat, nutritious trace elements, long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs), and vitamins D and B. Fish consumption may be inversely associated with ischemic stroke but not with hemorrhagic stroke. Total stroke risk reduction (RR) was statistically significant for fish intake once per week, while the risk of stroke was lowered by 31% in individuals who ate fish five times or more per week. Greater adherence to the MD is associated with a significant reduction in overall mortality, mortality from CVDs and stroke, incidence of or mortality from cancer, and incidence of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment.

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