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Interventions and public health nutrition

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life in the SUN Project

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 66, pages 360–368 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Mediterranean diet has been related with reduced morbidity and better well-being. The aim of this study was to assess whether the adherence to the Mediterranean diet were associated with mental and physical health related to quality of life.

Subjects/Methods:

This analysis included 11 015 participants with 4 years of follow-up in the SUN Project (a multipurpose cohort study based on university graduates from Spain). A validated 136-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline, according to a nine-point score, presented in four categories (low, low-moderate, moderate-high and high). Health-related quality of life (HRQL) was measured after 4 years of follow-up with the Spanish version of the SF-36 Health Survey. Generalized Linear Models were fitted to assess adjusted mean scores, the regression coefficients (β) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the SF-36 domains according to categories of adherence to Mediterranean diet.

Results:

Multivariate-adjusted models revealed a significant direct association between adherence to Mediterranean diet and all the physical and most mental health domains (vitality, social functioning and role emotional). Vitality (β=0.50, 95% CI=0.32–0.68) and general health (β=0.45, 95% CI=0.26–0.62) showed the highest coefficients. Mean values for physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health and vitality domains were significantly better with increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Those having improved their initial high diet scores have better scores in physical functioning, general health and vitality.

Conclusions:

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet seems to be a factor importantly associated with a better HRQL.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the participants of the SUN Study for their continued cooperation and participation. We thank to other members of the SUN Group: A Alonso, I Ara, FJ Basterra-Gortari, S Benito, M Bes-Rastrollo, JJ Beunza, M Delgado-Rodriguez, T Dierssen, J Doreste, F Guillen-Grima, J Krafka, J Llorca, C Lopez del Burgo, A Marti, JA Martinez, JM Nuñez-Cordoba, AM Pimenta, D Sanchez, M Segui-Gomez, M Serrano-Martínez and Z Vazquez. The Spanish Government Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, projects PI042241, PI040233, PI050976, PI070240, PI0801943, and RD 06/0045 and the Navarra Regional Government project PI41/2005 have supported the SUN Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

    P Henríquez Sánchez, C Ruano & A Sánchez-Villegas

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Navarra, Spain

    J de Irala, M Ruiz-Canela, M A Martínez-González & A Sánchez-Villegas

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  1. P Henríquez Sánchez
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  2. C Ruano
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Correspondence to P Henríquez Sánchez.

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Henríquez Sánchez, P., Ruano, C., de Irala, J. et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life in the SUN Project. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 360–368 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.146

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.146

Keywords

  • Mediterranean diet
  • quality of life
  • mental health
  • physical health

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