| Summary: | Abstract: The Mediterranean diet is known to be one of the healthiest dietary patterns in the
world due to its relation with a low morbidity and mortality for some chronic diseases. The
purpose of this study was to review literature regarding the relationship between Mediterranean
diet and healthy aging. A MEDLINE search was conducted looking for literature regarding
the relationship between Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease (or risk factors for
cardiovascular disease), cancer, mental health and longevity and quality of life in the elderly
population (65 years or older). A selection of 36 articles met the criteria of selection. Twenty
of the studies were about Mediterranean diets and cardiovascular disease, 2 about Mediterranean
diets and cancer, 3 about Mediterranean diets and mental health and 11 about longevity
(overall survival) or mental health. The results showed that Mediterranean diets had benefi ts on
risks factors for cardiovascular disease such as lipoprotein levels, endothelium vasodilatation,
insulin resistance, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, antioxidant capacity, the incidence
of acute myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality. Some positive associations with
quality of life and inverse associations with the risk of certain cancers and with overall mortality
were also reported.
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