ArticleBMJ open2013
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a better health-related quality of life: a possible role of high dietary antioxidant content.
Article in BMJ open, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 83 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
83 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Are Major a Posteriori Dietary Patterns Reproducible in the Italian Population? A Systematic Review and Quantitative Assessment.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2024Pooled it
- A systematic review of the association between dietary patterns and health-related quality of life.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2020Pooled it
- The Impact of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns on Cancer-Related Outcomes: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients · 2020Pooled it
- The influence of diet quality and dietary behavior on health-related quality of life in the general population of children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2019Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Health-Related Quality of Life during 26-Week Intervention with the New Nordic Renal Diet.Nutrients · 2024Trial
- How Does Dietary Intake Relate to Dispositional Optimism and Health-Related Quality of Life in GermlineNutrients · 2023Trial
- Trial
- Measuring the impact of olive pomace enriched biscuits on the gut microbiota and its metabolic activity in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects.European journal of nutrition · 2019Trial
- Mediterranean diet and quality of life: Baseline cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIMED-PLUS trial.PloS one · 2018Trial
- Article
- Total Dietary Polyphenols and Their Components Intake Associated With Quality of Life Among Women With Obesity and Overweight: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Associations between digital healthy diet literacy, artificial intelligence attitudes, mediterranean diet adherence, and health-related quality of life in adults.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Multifactorial determinants of health status: insights from the MEDIET4ALL large-scale survey on eco-sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle (diet, physical activity, and sleep) factors.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease.Cardiovascular research · 2025Review
- Article
- Article
- The Role of the Mediterranean Diet and Alcohol Consumption in Chronic Liver Disease Prevention: A Narrative Review.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Review
- The Interplay Between Mindful Eating, Climate Change Awareness, and Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.Food science & nutrition · 2025Article
23 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesMediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a reduced risk of major chronic disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a valid predictor of mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between MD and HRQL and to examine the possible role of dietary antioxidants, fibre content and/or fatty acid components.
designCross-sectional study on a sample of Italian participants enrolled in the Moli-sani Project, a population-based cohort study. Food intake was recorded by the Italian European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition study food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to MD was appraised by a Greek Mediterranean diet score (MDS), an Italian Mediterranean diet index (IMI) and by principal component analysis (PCA). HRQL was assessed by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey.
settingMolise region, Italy.
participants16 937 participants of 24 325 Italian citizens (age≥35). MAIN OUTCOMES: Dietary patterns and HRQL.
resultsMental health was associated consistently and positively with MDS, IMI and an 'Olive oil and vegetable' pattern (PCA1), but negatively with an 'Eggs and sweets' pattern (PCA3). Physical health was associated positively with MDS and PCA1, but negatively with a 'Meat and pasta' pattern. Subjects with the highest MD adherence had 42% (MDS), 34% (IMI) or 59% (PCA1) statistically significant multivariable odds of being in the uppermost level of mental health, as compared with subjects in the lowest category. The associations disappeared after further adjustment for either total food antioxidant content or dietary fibre, while they were not modified by the inclusion of either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. Individuals in the highest PCA1 or PCA3 had significantly higher odds of being in the top level of physical health.
conclusionsAdherence to an MD pattern is associated with better HRQL. The association is stronger with mental health than with physical health. Dietary total antioxidant and fibre content independently explain this relationship.
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