Changes in Spanish lifestyle and dietary habits during the COVID-19 lockdown.

PURPOSE: The COVID-2019 pandemic forced many governments to declare the "to stay at home" which encouraged social distancing and isolation among citizens. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary and lifestyle habit changes that occurred during home confinement in Spain. METHODS: An European online survey was launched in April 2020. This included 70 questions on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, dietary habits, including key Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) foods. A total of 945 Spanish adults from 1268 European that completed the online survey were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Most of the Spanish participants adopted healthier dietary habits during home lockdown, which was translated to a higher MedDiet adherence. However, a negative impact on physical activity levels, sleep quality or smoking rates was observed. Low MedDiet adherence was associated with a higher risk of weight gain (OR = 1.53, CI 1.1-2.1; p = 0.016), while no snacking between meals reduced the risk by 80% (OR = 0.20, CI 0.09-0.45, p < 0.001) and eating more quantity, considering portion size, increased body weight gain risk almost sixfold more. CONCLUSION: To conclude, although dietary habits were improved during home lockdown, certain unhealthy behaviours (e.g. increased snacking between meals, increased food intake, and an increase in sedentary behaviour) were increased.

The Mediterranean diet in Spain: adherence trends during the past two decades using the Mediterranean Adequacy Index.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to analyse the evolution of the Spanish population's global and regional adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) since 1987. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted analysing food consumption from the Spanish Household Consumption Surveys administered by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. SETTING: The Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) was applied to measure the adherence to the MD. The significance of the MAI trend was evaluated using a regression model. SUBJECTS: The sample comprises a household consumption data set, which consisted of 2500 households in 1987 and increased to 6200 in 2005. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the MAI (P=0.001) during the past two decades in Spanish households. From 1987 to 1997, MD adherence significantly decreased, but since 1998 it appears to have stabilised. In recent years, the daily household availability of several of the food components of the MD has increased. The MAI was observed to be significantly higher during the entire period in some Mediterranean regions, such as Andalusia, and significantly lower in more inland regions, such as Castile-Leon. CONCLUSIONS: During the past two decades, Spain has experienced a significant downward trend in adherence to the predominant dietary pattern, likely as a result of numerous socio-economic changes. However, a stabilisation and a recent slight recovery have been observed during the past decade.

Availability of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean foods during the last four decades: comparison of several geographical areas.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the availability of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet and other food groups in five geographical areas during a 43-year period. DESIGN: Ecological study with food availability data obtained from FAO food balance sheets in forty-one countries for the period 1961-1965 and 2000-2004. SETTING: Mediterranean, Northern and Central Europe, Other Mediterranean countries and Other Countries of the World were the studied areas. RESULTS: The main changes since the 1960s, at an availability level, were found in European areas and in Other Mediterranean countries. The greatest changes were found in Mediterranean Europe, recording high availability of non-Mediterranean food groups (animal fats, vegetable oils, sugar and meat), whereas the availability of alcoholic beverages, including wine, and legumes decreased. Despite having lost some of its typical characteristics, Mediterranean Europe has more olive oil, vegetables, fruits and fish available than other areas. Although Northern Europe has a greater availability of non-Mediterranean foods, there has been a tendency towards a decrease in availability of some of these foods and to increase Mediterranean food such as olive oil and fruits. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that European countries, especially those in the Mediterranean area, have experienced a 'westernisation' process of food habits, and have increasingly similar patterns of food availability (mainly non-Mediterranean food groups) among them. Measures must be taken to counteract these tendencies and to avoid their possible negative consequences. It is also crucial to find ways to promote and preserve the Mediterranean diet and its lifestyle in modern societies.

Bone resorption processes in patients wearing overdentures. A 6-years retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: 1. - To measure the alveolar resorption processes that occur in patients wearing mandibular overdentures on 2 implants and fully-removable maxillary dentures, and to evaluate the same process on patients wearing fully-removable dentures on both arches. 2.- To verify whether Kelly's Combination Syndrome occurs in the group of patients wearing overdentures. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Forty patients were evaluated, of which a "cases" group was formed by 25 patients wearing mandibular overdentures on 2 lower jaw implants and fully-removable dentures on the opposite arch. The other 15 patients formed a control group that wore fully-removable dentures on both arches. Each one of the patients underwent orthopantograms from the moment the dentures were inserted until an average of 6 years later, which were assessed based on the Xie et al. method to estimate vertical bone loss. Once the data was collected, it was subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: In terms of the maxillary midline, we observed a greater loss in patients wearing overdentures, which was statistically significant, as it registered 0.32 mm/year. Mandibular bone loss was 2.5 times less in patients in the cases group. The rest of the clinical criteria for Kelly's Combination Syndrome were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Kelly's Combination Syndrome did not occur in the patients in the cases group. In spite of the greater bone loss on a premaxillary level in this group, the placing of the overdenture on the implants significantly reduced mandibular bone resorption.

Bone resorption processes in patients wearing overdentures. A 6-years retrospective study

Objectives: 1. – To measure the alveolar resorption processes that occur in patients wearing mandibular overdentures on 2 implants and fully-removable maxillary dentures, and to evaluate the same process on patients wearing fully- removable dentures on both arches. 2.- To verify whether Kelly’s Combination Syndrome occurs in the group of patients wearing overdentures. Method and Material: Forty patients were evaluated, of which a “cases” group was formed by 25 patients wearing mandibular overdentures on 2 lower jaw implants and fully-removable dentures on the opposite arch. The other 15 patients formed a control group that wore fully-removable dentures on both arches. Each one of the patients underwent orthopantograms from the moment the dentures were inserted until an average of 6 years later, which were assessed based on the Xie et al. method to estimate vertical bone loss. Once the data was collected, it was subjected to statistical analysis. Results: In terms of the maxillary midline, we observed a greater loss in patients wearing overdentures, which was statistically significant, as it registered 0.32 mm/year. Mandibular bone loss was 2.5 times less in patients in the cases group. The rest of the clinical criteria for Kelly’s Combination Syndrome were not observed.
Conclusions: Kelly’s Combination Syndrome did not occur in the patients in the cases group. In spite of the greater bone loss on a premaxillary level in this group, the placing of the overdenture on the implants significantly reduced mandibular bone resorption (AU)

The use of indexes evaluating the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in epidemiological studies: a review.

The purpose of this paper is to review some of the methods that several epidemiological studies use to evaluate the adherence of a population to the Mediterranean diet pattern. Among these methods, diet indexes attempt to make a global evaluation of the quality of the diet based on a traditional Mediterranean reference pattern, described as a priori, general and qualitative. The Mediterranean diet indexes, hence, summarise the diet by means of a single score that results from a function of different components, such as food, food groups or a combination of foods and nutrients. The reviewed evaluation methods can be classified into three categories depending on the way they are calculated: (1) those based on a positive or negative scoring of the components, (2) those that add or substract standardised components, and (3) those that are based on a ratio between components. Dietary scores have been used to explore the multiple associations between the Mediterranean diet, as an integral entity, and health parameters such as life expectancy or the incidence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancers. Moreover, these indexes are also useful tools to measure food consumption trends and to identify the involved factors, as well as to develop comprehensive public health nutrition recommendations. A more precise and quantitative definition of the Mediterranean diet is required if the adherence to such a dietary pattern is intended to be more accurately measured. Other aspects of the Mediterranean diet indexes should also be taken into account, like the inclusion of typical Mediterranean foods such as nuts and fish and the validation of the dietary pattern approach by using biomarkers.