The Mediterranean lifestyle, whose beneficial effects have been known for over 30 years, remains the ideal model to pursue. word of theAIGO, the Italian association of gastroenterologists, which met in Bari for a scientific discussion on the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. “When we talk about therapy in gastroenterology, we put in place a multi-level path of which the gastroenterologist becomes the director: a pharmacological approach, but also surgical and endoscopic intervention; last but not least a nutritional and lifestyle approach“, says Gioacchino Leandro, Director of the Complex Operative Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy of the “IRCCS” Hospital in Castellana Grotte (Bari), speaking to an audience of over 200 industry experts.
One of the main key points that emerged was therefore the confirmation of the "superiority" of the Mediterranean diet compared to other specific diets proposed in various clinical situations. Today, in fact, the so-called "spot" diets often dominate: "It is a question - continued the doctor - of "free" diets, based on the exclusion of one or more food categories. Nothing more wrong. The Mediterranean diet is rich in foods with a prebiotic action and in soluble fibers such as inulin, metabolised by the probiota with the production of butyrate, an anti-inflammatory substance. In recent years, the international scientific community has demonstrated that adherence to the Mediterranean food pyramid is associated with the normalization of the intestinal microbiota and with the regulation of the genes that control inflammation”.
The debate referred in particular to the "PRE-DI-MED" study, Prevention with the Mediterranean Diet, of 2018, and it was reiterated that many "free" diets tend to exclude foods containing inulin, resulting in the development of an inflammatory pattern over time and are therefore to be decisively banned. From these considerations comes the call of Italian gastroenterologists to rediscover the Mediterranean diet, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, which we are guilty of losing, to the advantage of an absolutely harmful western lifestyle. The reports presented by specialists and teachers during the national course underlined some aspects, which are confirmed in a review published on 19 November 2019 in the international scientific journal "Nutrients" by a group of Spanish researchers.
The study focused its attention on the two fluid foods that are part of the food pyramid, red wine and extra virgin olive oil. Both contribute to the protective anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, with improvement of the lipid structure, insulin resistance and atherosclerotic risk, both in the general population and in subjects with fatty liver and metabolic syndrome. Extra virgin olive oil and red wine are in fact rich in polyphenols, which carry out an antioxidant action, and some peculiar substances such as mono and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (olive oil) and resveratrol (red wine): this last substance has drawn much attention from researchers as it is able to promote the conversion of white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue (which is the metabolically active one) by mimicking the action of caloric restriction and physical exercise, especially if taken in the evening.
“The polyphenols of foods of the Mediterranean diet they have a synergistic action between them, so much so that when used individually as drugs they don't work. – added Dr. Leandro – During the course we reviewed the therapeutic aspects of many pathologies, such as, for example, the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver, a real epidemic in the Western world: in these situations, the Mediterranean diet has proved to be more effective than a low-fat diet. Furthermore, we have shown how through some expedients, such as the use of a juice extractor, the Mediterranean diet turns out to be the best regimen even in clinical situations in which the high fiber intake could make its application more problematic. This is the case with inflammatory bowel diseases and diverticular disease in the symptomatic phase, since it allows us not to lack useful proteins and vitamins in a subject who often risks malnutrition”.
Finally, a further consideration on the wine. “The Mediterranean diet recommends the daily consumption of 1-2 glasses of red wine with meals, which according to some studies would have positive effects, even higher than absolute abstention from alcohol. However, the relationship between wine consumption and health risks has a "U" shape: for low doses (those recommended) the protective effect is evident, but the risk rises dramatically as the quantity consumed increases. Therefore, the invitation is for conscious use”, concluded Leandro.
