Mediterranean diet, physical activity and subcutaneous advanced glycation end-products’ accumulation: a cross-sectional analysis in the ILERVAS project

Year Published: 2019

Eur J Epidemiol

Enric SánchezÀngels BetriuJordi Salas-SalvadóReinald PamplonaFerrán BarbéFrancesc PurroyCristina FarràsElvira FernándezCarolina López-CanoChadia MizabAlbert Lecubethe ILERVAS project investigators

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of adherence to a Mediterranean diet on the presence of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The Mediterranean diet, which includes nuts, has been shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. AGEs are compounds associated with diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease and mortality. Investigators examined AGEs using a skin autoflourescence (SAF) procedure.

Key Findings: Participants with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet had low skin autoflourescence (SAF) (evidence of lower AGEs). A high intake of certain foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts, were also independently associated with lower SAF. Further, "no observation between the Mediterranean diet and physical activity on SAF values were observed except for nuts consumption (p=0.047)." Authors conclude that "Adherence to the MedDiet, but not physical activity, was negatively associated to SAF measurements. This association can be explained by some typical food components [like nuts] of the MedDiet."