Proposal of a Mediterranean Diet Serving Score

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 6; p. e0128594
• Main Authors: Monteagudo, Celia, Mariscal-Arcas, Miguel, Rivas, Ana, Lorenzo-Tovar, María Luisa, Tur, Josep A., Olea-Serrano, Fátima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.06.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Cancer; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Child; Cultural heritage; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Diet Surveys - statistics & numerical data; Diet, Mediterranean; Eating; Eating behavior; Feeding Behavior; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Food; Food consumption; Food groups; Food science; Habits; Health care; Heart diseases; Humans; Lifestyles; Meals; Mediterranean diet; Metabolic syndrome; Middle Aged; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Näringslära; Obesity; Older people; Population; Prevention; Prognosis; Public health; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Regression models; Risk factors; ROC Curve; Spain; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Womens health; Young Adult; France; Spain
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128594

Numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, etc. The study aim was to validate a novel instrument to measure MD adherence based on the consumption of food servings and food groups, and apply it in a female population from southern Spain and determining influential factors. The study included 1,155 women aged 12-83 yrs, classified as adolescents, adults, and over-60-yr-olds. All completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The Mediterranean Dietary Serving Score (MDSS) is based on the latest update of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, using the recommended consumption frequency of foods and food groups; the MDSS ranges from 0 to 24. The discriminative power or correct subject classification capacity of the MDSS was analyzed with the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, using the MDS as reference method. Predictive factors for higher MDSS adherence were determined with a logistic regression model, adjusting for age. According to ROC curve analysis, MDSS evidenced a significant discriminative capacity between adherents and non-adherents to the MD pattern (optimal cutoff point=13.50; sensitivity=74%; specificity=48%). The mean MDSS was 12.45 (2.69) and was significantly higher with older age (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed highest MD adherence by over 60-year-olds with low BMI and no habit of eating between meals. The MDSS is an updated, easy, valid, and accurate instrument to assess MD adherence based on the consumption of foods and food groups per meal, day, and week. It may be useful in future nutritional education programs to prevent the early onset of chronic non-transmittable diseases in younger populations.