Mediterranean Diet and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
José Francisco López-Gil JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421976.
Key Points
Question What is the association of Mediterranean diet–based interventions with cardiometabolic biomarkers in children and adolescents?
Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies in 577 participants, interventions promoting adherence to the Mediterranean diet was modestly associated with reduced systolic blood pressure and triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in youths.
Meaning These findings highlight the relevance of Mediterranean diet–based interventions as a useful tool to optimize cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.
Abstract
Importance No prior systematic review and meta-analysis has specifically verified the association of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet)–based interventions with biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.
Objective To review and analyze the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the effects of MedDiet-based interventions on biomarkers of cardiometabolic health among children and adolescents.
Data Sources Four electronic databases were searched (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus) from database inception to April 25, 2024.
Study Selection Only RCTs investigating the effect of interventions promoting the MedDiet on cardiometabolic biomarkers (ie, systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], triglycerides [TGs], total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) among children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years) were included.
Data Extraction and Synthesis A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Data were extracted from the studies by 2 independent reviewers. Results across studies were summarized using random-effects meta-analysis.
Main Outcome and Measures The effect size of each trial was computed by unstandardized mean differences (MDs) of changes in biomarker levels (ie, SBP, DBP, TGs, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) between the intervention and the control groups. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach.
Results Nine RCTs were included (mean study duration, 17 weeks; range, 8-40 weeks). These studies involved 577 participants (mean age, 11 years [range, 3-18 years]; 344 girls [59.6%]). Compared with the control group, the MedDiet-based interventions showed a significant association with reductions in SBP (mean difference, −4.75 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.97 to −0.52 mm Hg), TGs (mean difference, −16.42 mg/dL; 95% CI, −27.57 to −5.27 mg/dL), TC (mean difference, −9.06 mg/dL; 95% CI, −15.65 to −2.48 mg/dL), and LDL-C (mean difference, −10.48 mg/dL; 95% CI, −17.77 to −3.19 mg/dL) and increases in HDL-C (mean difference, 2.24 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.34-4.14 mg/dL). No significant associations were observed with the other biomarkers studied (ie, DBP, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR).
Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that MedDiet-based interventions may be useful tools to optimize cardiometabolic health among children and adolescents.