Mediterranean vs. Western Style Diet [29.04.20]
What happens in the body after a big meal? Blood sugar level rises, insulin is released, and the fat concentration in our blood increases. Duration and nature of such physiological fluctuations can have long-term health effects, as has been shown for constantly and excessively high blood sugar and insulin levels that promote type 2 diabetes. But can we influence these processes by our eating habits? How do different forms of nutrition affect these parameters and can our dietary habits promote or prevent chronic diseases? These question have been focussed on in a study performed by a research team from the Universities of Bonn and Hohenheim. 3 types of nutrition were examined: The Mediterranean diet, a carbohydrate-rich western diet and a high-fat western diet. The direct influence of these three forms of nutrition on health parameters was investigated in a cohort of overweight probands with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. It was found that especially high-energy meals have an unfavorable effect on blood sugar, blood lipids and inflammation parameters regardless of the dietary form. Overall and as expected, the Mediterranean diet performed best, as comparatively lower blood sugar levels, insulin and blood lipids were measured in response to Mediterranean meals.
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Schönknecht, Y.B., Crommen, S., Stoffel‐Wagner, B., Coenen, M., Fimmers, R., Holst, J.J., Simon, M.-C., Stehle, P., Egert, S., n.d. Acute Effects of Three Different Meal Patterns on Postprandial Metabolism in Older Individuals with a Risk Phenotype for Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research n/a, 1901035. doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201901035
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate acute postprandial responses to intake of meals typical for Mediterranean and Western diets. Methods: In a randomized crossover design, overweight and obese participants with a risk phenotype for cardiometabolic diseases consumed three different isoenergetic meals: Western diet-like high-fat (WDHF), Western diet-like high-carbohydrate (WDHC), and Mediterranean diet (MED) meal. Blood samples are collected at fasting and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 h postprandially and analyzed for parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, oxidation, and antioxidant status. Results: Compared to MED and WDHF meals, intake of a WDHC meal results in prolonged and elevated increases in glucose and insulin. Elevations for triglycerides are enhanced after the WDHF meal compared to the MED and the WDHC meal. Glucagon-like peptide-1 and interleukin-6 increase postprandially without meal differences. Apart from vitamin C showing an increase after the MED meal and a decrease after WDHF and WDHC meals, antioxidant markers decrease postprandially without meal differences. Plasma interleukin-1β is not affected by meal intake. Conclusions: Energy-rich meals induce hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, an inflammatory response, and a decrease in antioxidant markers. A meal typical for the Mediterranean diet results in favorable effects on glycemic, insulinemic, and lipemic responses. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
