Comparing the Dietary Habits and the Food Choices Between Italian and Dominican Adult Populations: Focus on Fruit and Vegetable Intakes and Their Association with Skin Carotenoid Levels.

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables (FVs), which is considered as an important contributor to the beneficial effects of the MD pattern. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the food choices, evaluated by dietary habit questionnaires, of a sample of 995 adults, including 601 and 394 participants from Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic, respectively. In addition, we focused on their FV consumption, assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire, and on its association with skin carotenoid levels as measured by the Veggie Meter®. We found that a significantly higher percentage of Italians had five meals/day and breakfast compared to Dominicans (five meals/day: 43 vs. 25, p < 0.05; breakfast: 89 vs. 79, p < 0.05), whereas a lower percentage of participants from Italy consumed snacks between the two meals compared to the Dominican Republic population (47 vs. 70, p < 0.005). Most of the participants from both populations had breakfast at home. However, 59.3% of Italians and 27.5% of Dominicans (p = 0.005) had breakfast between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., whereas 5.8% and 27.5% (p = 0.001) had breakfast after 9:00 a.m., respectively. Milk/yogurt and eggs were the most consumed foods for breakfast in Italy and the Dominican Republic, respectively. Regarding the main meals, most of the Italians and Dominicans had a first course for lunch and a second course for dinner. Of note, we observed that approximately half of the Italians ate FVs in their main meals and had a higher carotenoid score than the Dominicans. Interestingly, in the multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the carotenoid score was positively associated with sex (ß = 0.078; p = 0.009), age (ß = 0.008; p = 0.001), vegetable consumption (ß = 0.12; p = 0.041) and the perception of a healthy diet (ß = 0.12; p = 0.001) in the Dominic Republic population, while the carotenoid score was directly associated with sex (ß = 54.97; p < 0.0001) and both vegetable (ß = 25.42; p = 0.0008) and fruit (ß = 38.61; p < 0.0001) consumption in the Italian sample. Our findings confirm the need to promote nutrition-based interventions to encourage FV intake, particularly in non-Mediterranean countries.

Differences of skin carotenoids and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet pattern in adults from Southern Italy and Dominican Republic.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of the skin carotenoids using the Veggie Meter® has emerged as a rapid objective method for assessing fruit and vegetable intake, highly recommended by the Mediterranean Diet (MD), which represents one of the healthiest dietary patterns, worldwide. This study aimed to examine differences in skin carotenoid content and degree of adherence to the MD pattern between two adult populations from Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 995 adults, 601 subjects from Italy and 394 from the Dominican Republic. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements and skin carotenoid assessment by Veggie Meter®. Adherence to the MD and lifestyle were evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and the Mediterranean Lifestyle Index (MEDLIFE) questionnaires. Correlations between the skin carotenoid and MEDAS score were estimated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Multiple linear regression models were created to determine variables that affect skin carotenoid score for both populations. RESULTS: Mean total skin carotenoids were higher in the Italian compared to the Dominican Republic population (342.4 ± 92.4 vs 282.9 ± 90.3; p < 0.005) regardless of sex (women: 318.5 ± 88.9 vs 277.3 ± 91.9, p < 0.005 and men: 371.7 ± 88.3 vs 289.5 ± 88.1, p < 0.005), and remaining statistically significant after age-adjustment of the Dominican Republic sample. Using the MEDAS questionnaire, we found a higher MD adherence score in the Italian than in the Dominican Republic population also after age-adjusting data (7.8 ± 2.1 vs 6.2 ± 3.7; p < 0.005) and even when categorized by sex (Italian vs age-adjusted Dominican Republic women: 7.9 ± 2.1 vs 6.3 ± 2.6; Italian vs age-adjusted Dominican Republic men: 7.7 ± 2.2 vs 6.0 ± 4.7; p < 0.005). Using the MEDLIFE test, total Italians presented a lower score with respect to the age-adjusted Dominican Republic population (3.2 ± 1.2 vs 3.4 ± 1.4; p < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis, skin carotenoids were associated with sex and negatively associated with BMI in the Italian population (sex: ß: 54.95; 95% CI: 40.11, 69.78; p < 0.0001; BMI: ß: - 1.60; 95% CI: - 2.98,0.86; p = 0.03), while they resulted associated with age and sex in the Dominican Republic population (age: ß: 2.76; 95% CI: 1.92, 3.56; p < 0.001; sex: ß: 23.29; 95% CI: 5.93, 40.64; p = 0.009). Interestingly, skin carotenoids were positively correlated with MEDAS score in both populations (Italy: r = 0.03, p < 0.0001, Dominican Republic: r = 0.16, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the assessment of the adherence to the MD and skin carotenoid content in adults living in Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic, showing a higher MD adherence score and a skin carotenoid content in inhabitants from the Mediterranean region. Our findings highlight the need to globally encourage fruit and vegetable intake, particularly in non-Mediterranean area.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Metabolic/Inflammatory Profile in Adolescents: Cellular Studies and Predictive Biomarkers.

CONTEXT: The COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdown restrictions changed people's lifestyles with potential negative impact on health. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study aimed to assess the COVID-19 lockdown influence on the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) pattern and its effects on the metabolic inflammatory profile in a cohort of healthy adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed anthropometric measurements, body composition, and MD adherence along with serum metabolic and inflammatory profile in 77 healthy adolescents from southern Italy before and after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Additionally, we evaluated the biological properties of prelockdown and postlockdown serum on human HepG2 and HuH-7 hepatic cells. RESULTS: We did not observe any significant differences in anthropometric and body composition parameters as well as MD adherence score in adolescents between prelockdown and postlockdown COVID-19. Intriguingly, although the metabolic profile of adolescents postlockdown was within the normal range, we evidenced increased levels of fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) along with a reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in postlockdown compared with prelockdown adolescent serum. In addition, elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-1ß, and ferritin were found in postlockdown adolescents compared with their prelockdown counterparts. Consistent with the biochemical parameters, we observed enhanced lipid accumulation with altered mitochondrial functions and increased reactive oxygen species production in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells treated with pooled serum from postlockdown with respect to prelockdown period. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis identified total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, TNF-α, and ferritin to be predictive serum markers for metabolic and inflammatory profiling after the lockdown period. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight that the COVID-19 lockdown, forcing sedentary behavior, had a negative impact on adolescents' metabolic and inflammatory profile which may result in long-term poor health outcomes.

Association between Skin Carotenoid Score Measured with Veggie Meter® and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Adolescents from Southern Italy.

The Veggie Meter® (Longevity Link Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT, USA), is a new portable device for the non-invasive and rapid detection of skin carotenoid content, which represents an acceptable biomarker for the evaluation of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. FVs are important components of a healthy diet, including the Mediterranean Diet (MD), which is a plant-based dietary pattern. Here, we evaluated the adherence to the MD via the administration of two online food questionnaires, and we measured the skin carotenoid content using the Veggie Meter® in a cohort of 498 healthy adolescents (233 males and 265 females) from Southern Italy. Using KIDMED and the MD Pyramid tests to assess the adherence to the MD, we found an average adherence (5.43 ± 2.57 and 7.20 ± 1.93, respectively) to the MD in our sample population. Moreover, we observed that the skin carotenoid score was 364.75 ± 98.29, which was within the normal range and inversely related to the BMI (r = -0.1461, p = 0.0011). Similar results were observed when the population was categorized by sex. Interestingly, we demonstrated, for the first time, a positive correlation between the carotenoid score and the adherence to the MD assessed using both the KIDMED and MD Pyramid tests in the total population (r = -0.2926, p < 0.0001 and r = -0.1882, p < 0.0001, respectively). The same direct correlation was found in adolescents according to their sex. Our findings highlight the potential of the Veggie Meter® as a feasible and promising tool for evaluating adherence to the MD and, ultimately, to promote healthy eating habits among adolescents.

Impact of Mediterranean Diet Food Choices and Physical Activity on Serum Metabolic Profile in Healthy Adolescents: Findings from the DIMENU Project.

Adolescent nutrition and healthy dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet (MD), have been associated with improved health status and decreased risk of various chronic and metabolic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Mediterranean food choices on lipid and glycemic metabolic profile in the total population and in adolescents grouped according to their physical activity (PA) levels at the time of recruitment (T0) and after six months from the administration of a personalized Mediterranean meal plan (T1). As part of the DIMENU study, 85 adolescents underwent measurements of lipid and glucose metabolic profile at T0 and T1. Using three positive items from KIDMED test related to the consumption of typical Mediterranean food (olive oil, fish, and nuts) and three negative items on dietary habits (going to fast-food, consuming biscuits, and candies), we categorized adolescents into six sets in which biochemical parameters were analyzed. In the total sample, significant reductions in serum total cholesterol, LDL, and glucose concentrations were observed for all the sets over the study period. Notably, active subjects, who had a better serum metabolic profile, showed significant improvements of glycemic control after 6 month follow up, while in sedentary adolescents and in those performing moderate PA significant reduction in glycemia, total cholesterol, and LDL was found in all sets. In conclusion, adopting the typical Mediterranean food choices led to a significant reduction in glucose and lipid profile in healthy adolescents, thus making the MD and PA a winning combination for health status.