Impact of mediterranean diet promotion on environmental sustainability: a longitudinal analysis

Alvarez-Alvarez, Laura; Vitelli-Storelli, Facundo; Rubín-García, María; García, S.; Bouzas, Cristina; Ruiz-Canela, Miguel; Corella, Dolores; Salas-Salvadó, Jordi; Fitó, Montserrat; Martinez, Alfredo; Tojal-Sierra, Lucas; Warnberg, Julia; Vioque, Jesus; Romaguera, Dora; López Miranda, José; Estruch, Ramon; Tinahones, Francisco-José; Santos-Lozano, José Manuel; Serra-Majem, Luís; Bueno-Cavanillas, Aurora; Fernández, Cristina García; Esteve-Luque, Virginia; Rodríguez-Delgado, Miguel; Torrego-Ellacuría, M.; Vidal, J.; Prieto, L.; Daimiel, Lidia; Casas, Rosa; García-Arellano, Ana; Shyam, Sangeetha; Gonzalez, J.I.; Castañer, Olga; García-Ríos, Antonio; Díaz, F. Ortiz; Fernandez, A.C.; Sanchez-Villegas, A.; Morey, M.; Cano-Ibáñez, Naomi; Sorto-Sanchez, Carolina; Bernal-Lopez, M.R.; Bes-Rastrollo, Maira; Nishi, Stephanie; Coltell, Oscar; Zomeno, M.D.; Peña-Orihuela, Patricia J.; Aparicio, D.V.; Zulet, M.A.; Vázquez, Z; Babio, Nancy; Perez, K.A.; Tur, J.A.; Martín-Sanchez, Vicente

doi:10.32920/26528053.v1

Impact of mediterranean diet promotion on environmental sustainability: a longitudinal analysis

journal contribution

posted on 2024-08-09, 16:24 authored by Laura Alvarez-Alvarez, Facundo Vitelli-Storelli, María Rubín-García, S. García, Cristina Bouzas, Miguel Ruiz-CanelaMiguel Ruiz-Canela, Dolores Corella, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Montserrat Fitó, Alfredo Martinez, Lucas Tojal-Sierra, Julia Warnberg, Jesus Vioque, Dora Romaguera, José López Miranda, Ramon Estruch, Francisco-José Tinahones, José Manuel Santos-Lozano, Luís Serra-Majem, Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas, Cristina García Fernández, Virginia Esteve-Luque, Miguel Rodríguez-Delgado, M. Torrego-Ellacuría, J. Vidal, L. Prieto, Lidia Daimiel, Rosa Casas, Ana García-Arellano, Sangeetha Shyam, J.I. Gonzalez, Olga Castañer, Antonio García-Ríos, F. Ortiz Díaz, A.C. Fernandez, A. Sanchez-Villegas, M. Morey, Naomi Cano-Ibáñez, Carolina Sorto-Sanchez, M.R. Bernal-Lopez, Maira Bes-RastrolloMaira Bes-Rastrollo, Stephanie NishiStephanie Nishi, Oscar Coltell, M.D. Zomeno, Patricia J. Peña-Orihuela, D.V. Aparicio, M.A. Zulet, Z Vázquez, Nancy Babio, K.A. Perez, J.A. Tur, Vicente Martín-Sanchez

Objective

This article aims to estimate the differences in environmental impact (greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, land use, energy used, acidification and potential eutrophication) after one year of promoting a Mediterranean diet (MD).

Methods

Baseline and 1-year follow-up data from 5800 participants in the PREDIMED-Plus study were used. Each participant's food intake was estimated using validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires, and the adherence to MD using the Dietary Score. The influence of diet on environmental impact was assessed through the EAT-Lancet Commission tables. The influence of diet on environmental impact was assessed through the EAT-Lancet Commission tables. The association between MD adherence and its environmental impact was calculated using adjusted multivariate linear regression models.

Results

After one year of intervention, the kcal/day consumed was significantly reduced (−125,1 kcal/day), adherence to a MD pattern was improved (+0,9) and the environmental impact due to the diet was significantly reduced (GHG: −361 g/CO2-eq; Acidification:-11,5 g SO2-eq; Eutrophication:-4,7 g PO4-eq; Energy use:-842,7 kJ; and Land use:-2,2 m2). Higher adherence to MD (high vs. low) was significantly associated with lower environmental impact both at baseline and one year follow-up.

Meat products had the greatest environmental impact in all the factors analysed, both at baseline and at one-year follow-up, in spite of the reduction observed in their consumption.

Conclusions

A program promoting a MD, after one year of intervention, significantly reduced the environmental impact in all the factors analysed. Meat products had the greatest environmental impact in all the dimensions analysed.