Benefits of the mediterranean diet for the quality of life of the elderly population

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14870499

Keywords:

Mediterranean Diet, Quality of Life, Longevity, Aged, Sarcopenia

Abstract

The Mediterranean diet has been widely studied due to its potential health benefits, especially in the elderly population, who face significant challenges related to aging. This study aimed to investigate the effects of this dietary approach on the quality of life of the elderly, emphasizing its influence on longevity, functionality and general well-being. Using an integrative literature review, the research analyzed white literature articles published in the EBSCOHost, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases in the last five years, in Portuguese or English, evaluating adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and its correlations with different health indicators. The results indicate that the adoption of this diet is associated with a reduced risk of chronic non-communicable diseases, in addition to contributing to improvements in cognitive abilities and mental health of the elderly. The analysis reveals that a dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats promotes not only physical but also psychosocial benefits, favoring healthy and active aging. It is concluded that the Mediterranean diet is an effective nutritional strategy that should be promoted in public health policies, aiming to improve the quality of life of the elderly population and prevent age-related diseases.

Author Biographies

  • Haniel Nityan Gomes Pinheiro, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

    Graduando em Nutrição

  • Anderson Alves da Silva, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira

    Mestre em Ciências da Atividade Física

  • Elisa Vasconcelos de Queiroz, Centro Universitário de Brasília

    Médica

  • Juliana Vasconcelos Lyra da Silva, Universidade Federal de Alagoas

    Mestre em Ciências da Saúde

  • Daniela de Mesquita Feijão, Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú

    Enfermeira

  • Rodrigo Almeida Batalha de Góis Lopes, Centro Universitário Mario Pontes Juca

    Graduando em Nutrição

  • Gisele da Silva dos Santos Souza, Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau

    Nutricionista Pós-graduada em Nutrição Clínica e Hospitalar

  • Fabrício Gomes dos Santos, Centro Universitário SENAC/SP

    Nutricionista Pós-graduado em Nutrição Clínica: do Home Care ao Hospital

  • Cristiane Lira Santana, Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde

    Técnica em Enfermagem Pós-graduada em Gerontologia

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LOPES, Juliana de Fatima da Conceição Veríssimo et al. Benefits of the mediterranean diet for the quality of life of the elderly population. Journal of Social Issues and Health Sciences (JSIHS), [S. l.], v. 2, n. 2, 2025. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14870499. Disponível em: https://ojs.thesiseditora.com.br/index.php/jsihs/article/view/315.. Acesso em: 22 feb. 2025.