Whole-Grain Intake in the Mediterranean Diet and a Low Protein to Carbohydrates Ratio Can Help to Reduce Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease, Slow Down the Progression of Aging, and to Improve Lifespan: A Review

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 13; no. 8; p. 2540
• Main Author: Capurso, Cristiano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.07.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Aging - physiology; Beans; carbohydrates; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Case-Control Studies; cognition; Cohort Studies; Development and progression; Diet - mortality; Diet, Carbohydrate Loading - mortality; Diet, Mediterranean; Diet, Protein-Restricted - mortality; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary fiber; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; disease severity; Eating - physiology; Edible Grain; elderly; Female; fish; fruits; Grain; grain consumption; Health aspects; Humans; Legumes; Life Expectancy; lifestyle; Longevity; low fat dairy products; Male; Mediterranean diet; Mental health; Middle Aged; Mimosaceae; Mortality; physical activity; Review; risk; whole grain foods; Whole Grains; Mediterranean Sea; Japan; carbohydrates; frailty; whole grain; lifespan; protein; aging; diet
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu13082540

Increase in the aging population is a phenomenon all over the world. Maintaining good functional ability, good mental health, and cognitive function in the absence of severe disease and physical disability define successful aging. A healthy lifestyle in middle age predisposes successful aging. Longevity is the result of a multifactorial phenomenon, which involves feeding. Diets that emphasize fruit and vegetables, whole grains rather than refined grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats, fish, legumes, and nuts are inversely associated with mortality or to a lower risk of becoming frail among elderly subjects. A regular physical activity and a regular intake of whole grain derivatives together with the optimization of the protein/carbohydrate ratio in the diet, where the ratio is significantly less than 1 such as in the Mediterranean diet and the Okinawan diet, reduces the risk of developing aging-related diseases and increases healthy life expectancy. The purpose of our review was to analyze cohort and case-control studies that investigated the effects of cereals in the diet, especially whole grains and derivatives as well as the effects of a diet with a low protein–carbohydrate ratio on the progression of aging, mortality, and lifespan.