Mediterranean diet and longevity

Mortality statistics from the WHO database covering the period 1960 to 1990 have provided intriguing evidence that something unusual has been affectin g in a beneficial way the health of the Mediterranean population. In recent papers, which evaluated the evidence accumulated over the last three decad es, it was concluded that the traditional Mediterranean diet meets several important criteria for a healthy diet. Direct evidence in support of the be neficial properties of the Mediterranean diet has also become available. Th ese data were derived from three studies, which have used a diet score, dev ised a priori on the basis of eight desirable key features of the tradition al common diet in the Mediterranean region. The conclusion of these studies is that a diet that adheres to the principles of the traditional Mediterra nean one is associated with longer survival. The Greek version of the Medit erranean diet is dominated by the consumption of olive oil and by high cons umption of vegetables and fruits. Antioxidants represent a common element i n these foods and an antioxidant action provides a plausible explanation fo r the apparent benefits. Wild edible greens frequently eaten in rural Greec e in the form of salads and pies contain very high quantities of flavonoids - considerably higher than those found in red wine or black tea. While the re is no direct evidence that these antioxidants are central to the benefit s of the Mediterranean Diet, indirect evidence from epidemiological data an d the increasing understanding of their mechanisms of action suggest that a ntioxidants may play a major role.