A Consensus Proposal for Nutritional Indicators to Assess the Sustainability of a Healthy Diet: The Mediterranean Diet as a Case Study

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence of the multiple effects of diets on public health nutrition, society, and environment. Sustainability and food security are closely interrelated. The traditional Mediterranean Diet (MD) is recognized as a healthier dietary pattern with a lower environmental impact. As a case study, the MD may guide innovative inter-sectorial efforts to counteract the degradation of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and homogeneity of diets due to globalization through the improvement of sustainable healthy dietary patterns. This consensus position paper defines a suite of the most appropriate nutrition and health indicators for assessing the sustainability of diets based on the MD. METHODS: In 2011, an informal International Working Group from different national and international institutions was convened. Through online and face-to-face brainstorming meetings over 4 years, a set of nutrition and health indicators for sustainability was identified and refined. RESULTS: Thirteen nutrition indicators of sustainability relating were identified in five areas. Biochemical characteristics of food (A1. Vegetable/animal protein consumption ratios; A2. Average dietary energy adequacy; A3. Dietary Energy Density Score; A4. Nutrient density of diet), Food Quality (A5. Fruit and vegetable consumption/intakes; A6. Dietary Diversity Score), Environment (A7. Food biodiversity composition and consumption; A8. Rate of Local/regional foods and seasonality; A9. Rate of eco-friendly food production and/or consumption), Lifestyle (A10. Physical activity/physical inactivity prevalence; A11. Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern), Clinical Aspects (A12. Diet-related morbidity/mortality statistics; A13. Nutritional Anthropometry). A standardized set of information was provided for each indicator: definition, methodology, background, data sources, limitations of the indicator, and references. CONCLUSION: The selection and analysis of these indicators has been performed (where possible) with specific reference to the MD. Sustainability of food systems is an urgent priority for governments and international organizations to address the serious socioeconomic and environmental implications of short-sighted and short-term practices for agricultural land and rural communities. These proposed nutrition indicators will be a useful methodological framework for designing health, education, and agricultural policies in order, not only to conserve the traditional diets of the Mediterranean area as a common cultural heritage and lifestyle but also to enhance the sustainability of diets in general

Les phytomicronutriments :tour d’horizon et difficultés rencontrées pour établir des ANC. Liens avec la réglementation des allégations santé

article présenté lors du colloque 'Phytomicronutriments' qui s’est tenu à Avignon le 16 décembre 2014.National audienceEpidemiological data, experimental animal studies and clinical trials suggested that a greater consumption of plant-derived products is associated with a reduced risk of several diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, some cancers). Fibers, vitamins, minerals are part of the components having a role in the prevention. But plants also contain a variety of compounds from their secondary metabolism that may have also a preventive health effect. These compounds belong to different families: polyphenols, carotenoids (non provitaminic A) as lycopene or lutein, sulfur compounds (glucosinolates and allyl sulfides). Because of their possible role on human health and their occurrence in the diet, it is assumed by the scientific community to name them phytomicronutrients, although it has not yet demonstrated their essentiality. Indeed, no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) has been established. However, some phytomicronutrients have been already integrated in health claims (EFSA, 2012). Furthermore, new biological functions of these substances are currently explored, such as their effect on gut microflora, with a promising future in human health.Des données épidémiologiques, ainsi que des travaux expérimentaux chez l’animal et chez l’homme, indiquent qu’une plus grande consommation de produits végétaux est associée à la réduction du risque de plusieurs pathologies (diabète, maladies cardiovasculaires, certains cancers). Des fibres, des vitamines, des minéraux font partie des constituants susceptibles d’avoir un rôle dans cette prévention. Mais les végétaux renferment aussi une grande variété de composés, issus de leur métabolisme secondaire, dont beaucoup de travaux établissent qu’ils pourraient avoir également un effet préventif sur notre santé. Ces composés appartiennent à différentes familles : les polyphénols, les caroténoïdes (en dehors des caroténoïdes provitaminiques A) comme le lycopène ou la lutéine, les composés soufrés (glucosinolates et sulfures d’allyle). Compte tenu du rôle possible de ces substances des végétaux sur la santé humaine et du fait de leur présence dans l'alimentation, il est admis par la communauté scientifique de les nommer phytomicronutriments, même si on n’a pas encore démontré leur essentialité. En effet, aucun apport nutritionnel conseillé (ANC) n’a été établi. Cependant, certains phytomicronutriments font déjà l’objet d’allégations (EFSA, 2012). Par ailleurs, de nouvelles fonctions de ces substances sont actuellement explorées, notamment au niveau du microbiote, avec un avenir prometteur en santé humaine

Olive oil and health effects: from epidemiological studies to the molecular mechanisms of phenolic fraction

Olive oil is a key component of the Mediterranean diet which is recognized to contribute to its health benefits. Recent prospective studies point towards a protective effect from an olive oil-rich diet in relation to the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and an improvement of cardiometabolic markers such as blood pressure, glycaemia and dyslipidemia, notably by reducing LDL cholesterol and LDL oxidation. The role of minor phenolic fraction was evidenced in intervention trials where lipid profiles showed greater improvement in participants receiving olive oil with higher phenolic content. The phenolic fraction of olive oil is composed of simple phenols (hydroxytyrosol), phenolic secoiridoids (oleuropein aglycone), lignans (pinoresinol), flavonoids and hydroxyisochromans. All these compounds have diverse biological activities that are described in the present review, supporting the protective effects of olive oil against degenerative diseases found in large cohorts monitored in Southern European countries

Consommation-sécurité-santé des fruits et légumes : les grandes tendances. Diaporama et résumé

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Fat-soluble micronutrients and metabolic syndrome

International audiencePurpose of review Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. MetS prevalence has been associated with diet inadequacy. Conversely, the cumulative incidence of MetS has been inversely associated with a Mediterranean-style diet that includes many different health-beneficial nutrients. Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet could reduce or at least stabilize metabolic risk factors. Recent findings Low serum level of fat-soluble micronutrients, such as carotenoids, vitamin (vit) A, D and E, has been linked to MetS. Fat-soluble micronutrients could contribute to prevent MetS thanks to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (vit E, carotenoids) or to their central role as hormone regulators (vit D) and/or lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis sensors (vit D and E). Summary This review summarizes recent epidemiological studies linking fat-soluble micronutrients to MetS and highlights new evidence on their mechanisms of actions

Les phytomicronutriments

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