The Mediterranean diet in Spain: adherence trends during the past two decades using the Mediterranean Adequacy Index

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to analyse the evolution of the Spanish population's global and regional adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) since 1987. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted analysing food consumption from the Spanish Household Consumption Surveys administered by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Setting: The Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) was applied to measure the adherence to the MD. The significance of the MAI trend was evaluated using a regression model.

Worldwide variation of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, in 1961–1965 and 2000–2003

“…It is based on a very easy to apply ratio between components; the Mediterranean foods (carbohydrate and protective food groups) v. the Non-Mediterranean foods (specially foods of animal origin and sweets) (16) . Although MAI has not been validated and has several limitations, it is a useful tool to compare availability trends between different countries (11,18) . The concept of a MD in itself is not consensual and varies in time, therefore influencing the construction of such indexes.…”

“…Based on the above features, many food indexes have been developed to evaluate the benefits of this dietary pattern (10) . The Mediterranean adequacy index (MAI) is one of such indexes, and has been used to study the adherence of a country or a population to the MD (11)(12)(13)(14) . However, it is important to remember that the definition presented by Ancel Keys, in the 1960s, for the MD and the concept of the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern is changing and is being influenced by globalisation (5) .…”

The prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in immigrant groups in Switzerland

“…Measured diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) C7 mmol/L (Anonymous 2008) and/or the presence of oral hypoglycaemic treatment and/or insulin. Reported diabetes was defined as a positive answer to the question ''Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?''…”

“…Still, recent data (Bach-Faig et al 2011;Baldini et al 2009;Chen and Marques-Vidal 2007) suggest that this dietary pattern is being progressively abandoned, and it would be of interest to assess dietary intake among immigrants and Swiss nationals.…”

High Blood Pressure and Diet Quality in the Spanish Childhood Population

“…Also, the rising prices of food items as a result of current economic crisis, is facilitating the abandonment of traditional habits [13]. Particularly in Spain, the level of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) is estimated at 50%, with a significant reduction in the last two decades [14][15][16][17].…”