Mediterranean Diet in Developmental Age: A Narrative Review of Current Evidences and Research Gaps

Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce the risk of developing obesity in pediatric patients. The current narrative review summarizes recent evidence regarding the impact of MD across the different stages of child development, starting from fetal develop...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Children (Basel) 2022-06, Vol.9 (6), p.906
Main Authors: Farella, Ilaria, Miselli, Francesca, Campanozzi, Angelo, Grosso, Francesca Maria, Laforgia, Nicola, Baldassarre, Maria Elisabetta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age groups
Asthma
Babies
Birth weight
Breastfeeding & lactation
Carbohydrates
Cereals
Child development
Children & youth
developmental age
Diet
Fatty acids
Food
Gestational diabetes
Health aspects
Mediterranean diet
Milk
Newborn babies
Nutrition research
Obesity in children
Olive oil
Pediatric research
Pediatrics
Postpartum period
Pregnancy
Preschool education
Prevention
Proteins
Questionnaires
Teenagers
Terminology
Weaning
Womens health
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Summary:Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce the risk of developing obesity in pediatric patients. The current narrative review summarizes recent evidence regarding the impact of MD across the different stages of child development, starting from fetal development, analyzing breastfeeding and weaning, through childhood up to adolescence, highlighting the gaps in knowledge for each age group. A literature search covering evidence published between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2022 and concerning children only was conducted using multiple keywords and standardized terminology in PubMed database. A lack of scientific evidence about MD adherence concerns the age group undergoing weaning, thus between 6 months and one year of life. In the other age groups, adherence to MD and its beneficial effects in terms of obesity prevention has been extensively investigated, however, there are still few studies that correlate this dietary style with the incidence of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, research on multi-intervention strategy should be implemented, especially regarding the role of education of children and families in taking up this healthy dietary style.
ISSN:2227-9067
2227-9067
DOI:10.3390/children9060906