Changes in dietary habits during Covid-19 lockdown in Egypt: the Egyptian COVIDiet study.

PURPOSE: COVID-19 lockdown changed social habits and lifestyle, including dietary habits, of people worldwide. However, limited information is available about these changes in Egypt. This cross-sectional study investigates the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on dietary habits among the Egyptian populations. METHODS: An online questionnaire, based on sociodemographic data and dietary adherence in accordance with the validated PREDIMED MedDiet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), was used all over the Egyptian governorates. The dietary changes were statistically evaluated for significance in relation to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), education level and governorates. RESULTS: A total of 1010 participants (76% aged below 36 years, 77% female, 22% obese, and 62% university-level education) answered the questionnaire. Respondents ≤ 20 years had a significant increase in weight and consumption of carbonated beverages, commercial pastries, fried and fast food. Egyptians > 50 years old had a significant decrease in physical activity. Underweight people (less than 3% of participants) increased their fast food intake with a prominent rise in weight. However, obese people increased cooking frequency and increased eating times with a decrease in physical activity. Male participants reported increased intake of carbonated beverages and fast food, while female participants increased the intake of homemade pastries with a significant decrease in physical activity. Approximately 50% of participants with postgraduate education reported decreased intake of fast food and carbonated beverages as well as decreased body weight. Residents of Cairo showed a significant increase in vegetable intake, and fried food intake with a decrease in seafood consumption. Participants from the Delta region had a significant increase in pastries intake. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study explored the need for increasing awareness about healthy lifestyle in future lockdown periods.

Relationship in dietary habits variations during COVID-19 lockdown in Kosovo: The COVIDiet study.

Changes in dietary habits and association with lifestyle during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown in the Kosovo population have not been studied yet. Therefore, the intent of the present study was to determine whether if COVID-19 lockdown had any impact in lifestyle, including dietary habits and physical activity (PA) patterns of people from different areas of Kosovo. Dietary habits, PA, body weight and sociodemographic variables were measured through validated online survey started one week after lockdown decision and lasted for next two month (May and June 2020). Six hundred eighty-nine participants (women 79% and men 21%) aged between 20 and 65 years from the Kosovo territory participated in the research. Multivariate models showed that participants in family home residence, participants from Gjilan, participants female and participants with professional educations reported a higher likelihood of turning into a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) (OR: 6.09, 5.25, 5.17, 4.19, respectively). The weight gained during the lockdown was positively associated with a higher cooking frequency (OR; 2.90, p < 0.01), lower meat and fish consumption (OR; 1.15, p = 0.02; OR; 1.04, p = 0.04, respectively), higher fast-food consumption (OR; 0.49, p = 0.02) and no physical activity performance (OR; 0.43, p = 0.02) during the COVID-19 lockdown. The dietary habits during COVID-19 lockdown could be related to the improvements in adherence to the MedDiet and physical activities that may minimize related health complications.

Impact of COVID-19 confinement on eating behaviours across 16 European countries: The COVIDiet cross-national study.

We aimed to evaluate the changes in eating behaviours of the adult population across 16 European countries due to the COVID-19 confinement and to evaluate whether these changes were somehow related to the severity of the containment measures applied in each country. An anonymous online self-reported questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, validated 14-items Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) Adherence Screener (MEDAS) as a reference of a healthy diet, eating and lifestyle behaviours prior to and during the COVID-19 confinement was used to collect data. The study included an adult population residing in 16 European countries at the time of the survey. Aggregated Stringency Index (SI) score, based on data from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, was calculated for each country at the time the questionnaire was distributed (range: 0-100). A total of 36,185 participants completed the questionnaire (77.6% female, 75.2% with high educational level and 42.7% aged between 21 and 35 years). In comparison to pre-confinement, a significantly higher adherence to the MedDiet during the confinement was observed across all countries (overall MEDAS score prior to- and during confinement: 5.23 ± 2.06 vs. 6.15 ± 2.06; p < 0.001), with the largest increase seen in Greece and North Macedonia. The highest adherence to MedDiet during confinement was found in Spain and Portugal (7.18 ± 1.84 and 7.34 ± 1.95, respectively). Stricter contingency restrictions seemed to lead to a significantly higher increase in the adherence to the MedDiet. The findings from this cross-sectional study could be used to inform current diet-related public health guidelines to ensure optimal nutrition is followed among the population, which in turn would help to alleviate the current public health crisis.

Phenolic compounds as natural and multifunctional anti-obesity agents: A review.

Prevalence of obesity worldwide has reached pandemic proportions. Despite the increasing evidence in the implication of phenolic compounds in obesity management, the real effect is not completely understood. The available in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the implication of phenolic compounds in: lowering food intake, decreasing lipogenesis, increasing lipolysis, stimulating fatty acids ß-oxidation, inhibiting adipocyte differentiation and growth, attenuating inflammatory responses and suppress oxidative stress. This review encompasses the most recent evidence in the anti-obesity effect of phenolic compounds from plants to different nutraceuticals and functional foods based on the in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. For that, this review has been focused on popular plant-based products highly consumed today such as cocoa, cinnamon, and olive oil, beverages such as red wine, tea (green, white and black tea) and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea, among others.

Chemical fingerprint and bioactivity evaluation of Globularia orientalis L. and Globularia trichosantha Fisch. & C. A. Mey. using non-targeted HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS approach.

INTRODUCTION: In the quest for new sources of biologically-active compounds, the chemical, and biological profiles of two Globularia species (G. trichosantha Fisch. & C. A. Mey and G. orientalis L.) were investigated. METHODOLOGY: Chemical profiles were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS), as well as by their total phenolic, flavonoids, and phenolic acids contents. The antioxidant abilities of the investigated extracts were done using different assays including free radical scavenging [1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS)], reducing power (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power), phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating. Inhibitory potential against key enzymes involved in neurodegenerative diseases (cholinesterases; AChE, and BChE), diabetes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase), hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase) and obesity (pancreatic lipase) were evaluated. RESULTS: Globularia trichosantha and G. orientalis extracts showed remarkable antioxidant properties, with the water extracts being a better source of antioxidant compounds. Both species showed remarkable inhibitory effects against the target enzymes. However, for both species, only the acetyl acetate and methanolic extracts were potent against cholinesterases and lipase. CONCLUSION: HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis revealed the presence of 107 compounds from G. trichosantha and G. orientalis, among which, 43 compounds have been preliminarily characterised for the first time from the Globulariaceae family. To date, this study can be considered as the most comprehensive research focused on the characterisation of G. trichosantha and G. orientalis. Results amassed from this study tend to show that these plants represent a rich source of biologically active compounds which can be further explored and validated for their therapeutic potential.

Symphytum Species: A Comprehensive Review on Chemical Composition, Food Applications and Phytopharmacology.

Symphytum species belongs to the Boraginaceae family and have been used for centuries for bone breakages, sprains and rheumatism, liver problems, gastritis, ulcers, skin problems, joint pain and contusions, wounds, gout, hematomas and thrombophlebitis. Considering the innumerable potentialities of the Symphytum species and their widespread use in the world, it is extremely important to provide data compiling the available literature to identify the areas of intense research and the main gaps in order to design future studies. The present review aims at summarizing the main data on the therapeutic indications of the Symphytum species based on the current evidence, also emphasizing data on both the efficacy and adverse effects. The present review was carried out by consulting PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database, Science Direct and Google Scholar (as a search engine) databases to retrieve the most updated articles on this topic. All articles were carefully analyzed by the authors to assess their strengths and weaknesses, and to select the most useful ones for the purpose of review, prioritizing articles published from 1956 to 2018. The pharmacological effects of the Symphytum species are attributed to several chemical compounds, among them allantoin, phenolic compounds, glycopeptides, polysaccharides and some toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Not less important to highlight are the risks associated with its use. In fact, there is increasing consumption of over-the-counter drugs, which when associated with conventional drugs can cause serious and even fatal adverse events. Although clinical trials sustain the folk topical application of Symphytum species in musculoskeletal and blunt injuries, with minor adverse effects, its antimicrobial potency was still poorly investigated. Further studies are needed to assess the antimicrobial spectrum of Symphytum species and to characterize the active molecules both in vitro and in vivo.

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction and pressurized liquid extraction of phenolic compounds from Moringa oleifera leaves by multiresponse surface methodology.

This work aims at studying the optimization of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) by multi-response surface methodology (RSM) to test their efficiency towards the extraction of phenolic compounds from Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves. The extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TF), DPPH scavenging method and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay were considered as response variables while effects of extraction time, percentage of ethanol, and temperature were studied. Extraction time of 20 min, 42% ethanol and 158°C were the MAE optimum conditions for achieving extraction yield of 26 ± 2%, EC50 15 ± 2 µg/mL, 16 ± 1 Eq Trolox/100 g dry leaf, 5.2 ± 0.5 mg Eq quercetin/g dry leaf, and 86 ± 4 mg GAE/g dry leaf. Regarding PLE, the optimum conditions that allowed extraction yield of 56 ± 2%, EC50 21 ± 3 µg/mL, 12 ± 2 mmol Eq Trolox/100 g dry leaf, 6.5 ± 0.2 mg Eq quercetin/g dry leaf, and 59 ± 6 mg GAE/g dry leaf were 128°C, 35% of ethanol, and 20 min. PLE enabled the extraction of phenolic compounds with a higher number of hydroxyl-type substituents such as kaempferol diglycoside and its acetyl derivatives and those that are sensitive to high temperatures (glucosinolates or amino acids) while MAE allowed better recoveries of kaempferol, quercetin, and their glucosides derivatives.

Tentative characterisation of iridoids, phenylethanoid glycosides and flavonoid derivatives from Globularia alypum L. (Globulariaceae) leaves by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS.

INTRODUCTION: Globularia alypum L., belonging to the Globulariaceae family, is a perennial wild shrub found throughout the Mediterranean area, Europe, and Africa. This plant is widely used to treat many diseases, but no previous work on the phytochemical composition of the Algerian G. alypum species has yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the phytoconstituents of the methanolic extract of G. alypum using an LC-ESI-QTOF-MS method. METHODS: Ground air-dried leaves of G. alypum were macerated with methanol at room temperature for 24 h. The supernatant was filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator, and extracts were recovered with methanol and filtered. Afterwards, the G. alypum extract was injected into the LC-ESI-QTOF-MS system. RESULTS: The combined LC-MS/MS led to the tentative characterisation of 63 phytochemicals. In this work, a large number of compounds have been characterised in the leaf-extract analysis of this plant. Among others, 24 iridoids and secoiridoids were found, of which nine compounds have not previously been recorded in G. alypum. Also, nine unusual phenylethanoid glycosides were characterised for the first time in this species. CONCLUSION: The method used has proved to be a valued tool for the characterisation of a wide range of compounds from G. alypum leaves. This work constitutes a detailed investigation of the chemical composition of G. alypum leaves, which are widely used in different traditional systems of medicine.

Sex-specific variations in spatial reference memory acquisition: Insights from a comprehensive behavioral test battery in C57BL/6JRj mice.

Sex differences in declarative memory are described in humans, revealing a female or a male advantage depending on the task. Specifically, spatial memory (i.e., spatial navigation) is typically most efficient in men. This sexual dimorphism has been replicated in male rats but not clearly in mice. In this study, sex differences in spatial memory were assessed in thirty-six C57BL/6 J mice (Janvier Labs; i.e., C57BL/6JRj mice), a widely used mouse substrain. Both male and female mice (12 weeks-old) were subjected to standard behavioral paradigms: the elevated plus maze, the open field test, the novel object and place tests, the forced swimming test, and the water maze test for spatial navigation. Across assessment, no sex differences were found in measures of locomotor activity, emotional and behavioral responses, and object and place recognition memories. In the water maze, male mice were faster in learning the platform location in the reference memory training and used more spatial strategies during the first training days. However, both sexes reached a similar asymptotic performance and performed similarly in the probe trial for long-term memory consolidation. No sex differences were found in the cued training, platform inversion sessions, or spatial working memory sessions. Hippocampal expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor was similar in both sexes, either in basal conditions or after performing the behavioral training battery. Importantly, female mice were not more variable than males in any measure analyzed. This outcome encourages the investigation of sex differences in animal models and the usefulness of including female mice in behavioral research.

Oridonin from Rabdosia rubescens: An emerging potential in cancer therapy - A comprehensive review.

Cancer incidences are rising each year. In 2020, approximately 20 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer-related deaths were recorded. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2024 the incidence of cancer will increase to 30.2 million individuals annually. Considering the invasive characteristics of its diagnostic procedures and therapeutic methods side effects, scientists are searching for different solutions, including using plant-derived bioactive compounds, that could reduce the probability of cancer occurrence and make its treatment more comfortable. In this regard, oridonin (ORI), an ent-kaurane diterpenoid, naturally found in the leaves of Rabdosia rubescens species, has been found to have antitumor, antiangiogenesis, antiasthmatic, antiinflammatory, and apoptosis induction properties. Extensive research has been performed on ORI to find various mechanisms involved in its anticancer activities. This review article provides an overview of ORI's effectiveness on murine and human cancer populations from 1976 to 2022 and provides insight into the future application of ORI in different cancer therapies.

A Comprehensive Review of the Effect of Honey on Human Health.

Honey is a nutritious, healthy, and natural food, to which antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties have been attributed, mainly due to its content of phenolic compounds. The aim of this review is to analyze the available evidence of the effect of honey on humans. Forty-eight clinical trials published between 1985 and 2022 were analyzed, with a total of 3655 subjects. More beneficial effects of honey intake than no or negative effects on different cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, glucose tolerance, mucositis caused by chemo-radiotherapy, cough in children and wound healing, among others have been observed. Although the number of studies conducted to date is limited and the different investigations are not standardized, beneficial effects of honey intake have been observed, especially when its intake replaces the intake of other sweeteners. In addition, honey could be a safe adjuvant to be administered alongside drugs used for certain diseases.

Occurrence of nano/microplastics from wild and farmed edible species. Potential effects of exposure on human health.

The occurrence of nano/microplastics (N/MPs) has become a global concern due to their risk on the aquatic environment, food webs and ecosystems, thus, potentially affecting human health. This chapter focuses on the most recent evidence about the occurrence of N/MPs in the most consumed wild and farmed edible species, the occurrence of N/MPs in humans, the potential impact of N/MPs on human health as well as future research recommendations for assessing N/MPs in wild and farmed edible species. Additionally, the N/MP particles in human biological samples, which include the standardization of methods for collection, characterization, and analysis of N/MPs that might allow evaluating the potential risk of the intake of N/MPs in human health, are discussed. Thus, the chapter consequently includes relevant information about the content of N/MPs of more than 60 edible species such as algae, sea cucumber, mussels, squids, crayfish, crabs, clams, and fishes.

How Healthy Is It to Fortify Cocoa-Based Products with Cocoa Flavanols? A Comprehensive Review.

(1) Background: Cocoa's healthy benefits may be attributed to the potent antioxidant activity of cocoa polyphenols, mainly flavanols, which have been characterised as existing in a high concentration in cocoa. However, the phenolic composition of cocoa and cocoa-derived products is highly variable, and manufacturing processes might significantly reduce their phenolic content. For that reason, the full characterisation of cocoa and cocoa-derived products before evaluating their bioactivity is crucial. The aim of this review is to analyse the available evidence on the effect of flavanol-fortified cocoa-derived products on human health. (2) Methods: Forty-eight clinical trials focused on the health effect of consuming flavanol-fortified drinks, bars and chocolate have been reviewed, with a total of 1523 subjects. (3) Results: Although studies differ widely in methodology, dosage, duration, and target population, beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa consumption have been observed at doses ranging from 45.3 mg/d to 1078 mg/d, especially on cardiovascular health and cognitive function. (4) Conclusions: Considering the high consumption and acceptability of cocoa and cocoa-derived products, the fortification of cocoa products as well as other highly consumed foods with cocoa flavanols could be an effective strategy for health promotion.

Metabolomic-Based Studies of the Intake of Virgin Olive Oil: A Comprehensive Review.

Virgin olive oil (VOO) is a high-value product from the Mediterranean diet. Some health and nutritional benefits have been associated with its consumption, not only because of its monounsaturated-rich triacylglycerols but also due to its minor bioactive components. The search for specific metabolites related to VOO consumption may provide valuable information to identify the specific bioactive components and to understand possible molecular and metabolic mechanisms implicated in those health effects. In this regard, metabolomics, considered a key analytical tool in nutritional studies, offers a better understanding of the regulatory functions of food components on human nutrition, well-being, and health. For that reason, the aim of the present review is to summarize the available scientific evidence related to the metabolic effects of VOO or its minor bioactive compounds in human, animal, and in vitro studies using metabolomics approaches.

Temozolomide treatment inhibits spontaneous motivation for exploring a complex object in mice: A potential role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in "curiosity".

Intrinsic exploratory biases are an innate motivation for exploring certain types of stimuli or environments over others, and they may be associated with cognitive, emotional, and even personality-like traits. However, their neurobiological basis has been scarcely investigated. Considering the involvement of the hippocampus in novelty recognition and in spatial and pattern separation tasks, this work researched the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in intrinsic exploratory bias for a perceptually complex object in mice. Spontaneous object preference tasks revealed that both male and female C57BL/6J mice showed a consistent unconditioned preference for exploring "complex"-irregular-objects over simpler ones. Furthermore, increasing objects' complexity resulted in an augmented time of object exploration. In a different experiment, male mice received either vehicle or the DNA alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) for 4 weeks, a pharmacological treatment that reduced AHN as evidenced by immunohistochemistry. After assessment in a behavioral test battery, the TMZ-treated mice did not show any alterations in general exploratory and anxiety-like responses. However, when tested in the spontaneous object preference task, the TMZ-treated mice did not display enhanced exploration of the complex object, as evidenced both by a reduced exploration time-specifically for the complex object-and a lack of preference for the complex object over the simple one. This study supports a novel role of AHN in intrinsic exploratory bias for perceptual complexity. Moreover, the spontaneous complex object preference task as a rodent model of "curiosity" is discussed.

Nutrition and adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus: Does what you eat help you remember?

Neurogenesis is a complex process by which neural progenitor cells (NPCs)/neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferate and differentiate into new neurons and other brain cells. In adulthood, the hippocampus is one of the areas with more neurogenesis activity, which is involved in the modulation of both emotional and cognitive hippocampal functions. This complex process is affected by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including nutrition. In this regard, preclinical studies performed in rats and mice demonstrate that high fats and/or sugars diets have a negative effect on adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). In contrast, diets enriched with bioactive compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, as well as intermittent fasting or caloric restriction, can induce AHN. Interestingly, there is also growing evidence demonstrating that offspring AHN can be affected by maternal nutrition in the perinatal period. Therefore, nutritional interventions from early stages and throughout life are a promising perspective to alleviate neurodegenerative diseases by stimulating neurogenesis. The underlying mechanisms by which nutrients and dietary factors affect AHN are still being studied. Interestingly, recent evidence suggests that additional peripheral mediators may be involved. In this sense, the microbiota-gut-brain axis mediates bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain and could act as a link between nutritional factors and AHN. The aim of this mini-review is to summarize, the most recent findings related to the influence of nutrition and diet in the modulation of AHN. The importance of maternal nutrition in the AHN of the offspring and the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the nutrition-neurogenesis relationship have also been included.

Exploring the Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Different Cocoa Powders.

Cocoa, the main derivative of the seeds of Theobroma cacao L., has been recognized to have several effects on human health including antioxidant and neuro- and cardio-protective effects, among others. These effects have been attributed mainly to its bioactive compounds. In this context, the aim of this work is to evaluate the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds (i.e., phenolic compounds, procyanidins and methylxanthines) and the antioxidant activity of seven different cocoas (alkalized and non-alkalized) from different origins (Peru, Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic, and West Africa). It represents the first stage of a larger project aiming to find high polyphenol cocoa-based nutritional strategies and related biomarkers that may potentiate brain plasticity and cognitive function. Cocoa powders were extracted by ultrasound-assisted technology, and the total phenolic content (TPC) was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu. Methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine) and procyanidin contents were determined by HPLC-FLD-DAD, and the antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. Non-alkalized cocoas showed higher phenolic and procyanidin contents and higher antioxidant activity compared to the alkalized ones. A strongly significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and the TPC, especially with the total procyanidin content, but not with methylxanthines was found. In conclusion, the non-alkalized cocoas, especially the one from Peru, were the best candidates in terms of bioactive compounds. The cocoa from Peru had a TPC of 57.4 ± 14.4 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g d.w., 28,575.06 ± 62.37 µg of catechin equivalents/g d.w., and 39.15 ± 2.12 mg/g of methylxanthines. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate its effect on brain plasticity and cognitive function.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction via Sonotrode of Phenolic Compounds from Orange By-Products.

Orange peel is the main by-product from orange juice industry. It is a known source of bioactive compounds, mostly phenolic compounds, and it has been widely studied for its healthy activities. Thus, this research focuses on the establishment of ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds in orange peel using a sonotrode. For this purpose, a Box-Behnken design of 27 experiments was carried out with four independent factors-ratio ethanol/water (v/v), time (min), amplitude (%), and pulse (%). Quantitative analyses of phenolic compounds were performed and the antioxidant activity was measured by ABTS and DPPH methods. The validity of the experimental design was confirmed by ANOVA and the optimal sonotrode extraction conditions were obtained by response surface methodology (RSM). The extracts obtained in the established conditions were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometer detector and 74 polar compounds were identified. The highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity were obtained using 45/55 ethanol/water (v/v), 35 min, amplitude 90% (110 W), and pulse 100%. The established method allows an increment of phenolics recovery up to 60% higher than a conventional extraction. Moreover, the effect of drying on phenolic content was also evaluated.

Cooking at Home and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet During the COVID-19 Confinement: The Experience From the Croatian COVIDiet Study.

Introduction: The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the changes in dietary behavior among the Croatian adult population during the COVID-19 outbreak and to explore the impact of confinement on cooking habits. Methods: The study was based on results from COVIDiet_Int cross-sectional study-a part of COVIDiet project (NCT04449731). A self-administered online questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of food consumption, eating habits, and sociodemographic information. A total number of 4,281 participants (80.5% females and 19.4% males) completed the questionnaire. Results: The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score before the confinement was 5.02 ± 1.97, while during the confinement, the MEDAS score increased to 5.85 ± 2.04. Participants who had higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) during the confinement were mostly females (88.8%), aged between 20 and 50 years, with the highest level of education (66.3%) and normal BMI (70.6%). The majority of participants maintained their dietary behavior as it was before COVID-19 confinement, while 36.9% decreased their physical activity. Participants with higher MEDAS score were more eager to increase their physical activity. Additionally, higher median values of MEDAS score were noted for participants with body mass index values below 24.9 kg/m2 (6.0 vs. 5.0 for participants with BMI above 25 kg/m2). Participants in all residence places increased their cooking frequency during the confinement (53.8%), which was associated with an increase in vegetables, legumes, as well as fish and seafood consumption. Conclusions: According to our findings, Croatian adults exhibited medium adherence to the MedDiet during the COVID-19 confinement. The results suggest that cooking frequency could be positively associated with overall dietary quality, which is of utmost importance in these demanding times.