Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pettern and assessment of antioxidant and polyphenol availability in European countries : impact on mortality rates for cardiovascular disease

Brojne studije povezuju tradicionalnu mediteransku prehranu s blagotvornim učincima na zdravlje. Kako bi se procjenila kakvoća prehrane te povezanost s zdravljem korišten je mediteranski indeks kakvoće prehrane (MDS). U svrhu istraživanja sakupljeni su podaci za 29 europskih zemalja putem različitih baza podataka te anketa, ispitujući 13 parametara kako bismo ustanovili da li prehrana sličnija mediteranskoj te bogata antioksidansima smanjuje smrtnost od kardiovaskularnih bolesti. Rezultati istraživanja potvrdila su prisutnost tipičnih karakteristika mediteranske prehrane u južnoj Europi statistički značajnim za dostupnost povrća i mahunarki te visokoj dostupnosti ostalih istraživanih parametara. Najviši indeks kakvoće prehrane je prisutan u južnoj Europe te najniža stopa smrtnosti od kardiovaskularnih bolesti. Unatoč spomenutom, rezultati također sugeriraju da dolazi do nestajanja tradicionalne mediteranske prehrane te do sve očitijeg ispreplitanja i povezivanja prehrambenih navika sjeverne i južne Europe.The traditional Mediterranean diet is known for its positive effects on well being and health status. In order to link adherence to a Mediterranean diet and health effects, the Mediterranean diet score (MDS) was used. This Thesis comprised data for 29 European countries, through 13 parameters, gathered from various databases and surveys with the goal of determining the influence adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet rich with antioxidants has on reduction of cardiovascular mortality rates. The Thesis has shown that typical characteristics of the Mediterranean diet are style present in the south with significant differences for vegetable and pulse availability and overall high availability of other investigated parameters. Mediterranean Europe has shown the highest Mediterranean diet score and the lowest cardiovascular disease mortality as opposed to other parts of Europe. However, results do indicate an abandonment of the Mediterranean diet from the mid- 20th century and the convergence of southern and northern-like diets in Europe