The Relationship Between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Exercise and Sport Performance—A Scoping Review

Evangeline Mantzioris; Anthony Villani; Adrienne Forsyth

doi:10.3390/nu16244259

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The Relationship Between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Exercise and Sport Performance—A Scoping Review

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The Relationship Between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Exercise and Sport Performance—A Scoping Review

Evangeline Mantzioris, Anthony Villani and Adrienne Forsyth

Nutrients, Vol.16(24), pp.1-23

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244259

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Abstract

Mediterranean diet

sports performance

athletes

anthropometrics

health

Background/Objectives: Athletes seek healthy diets for their health and performance. The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has been widely studied for its health benefits. We conducted a scoping review of the scientific literature for studies reporting on the relationship between MedDiet adherence and performance and health outcomes in athletes. Methods: Five bibliographic databases were searched from inception to December 2023. We included studies with any competing, recreational, professional, elite, or occupational athlete (of any age) who played a physical sport as part of a team or as an individual, in which the MedDiet was used as an intervention, or adherence was measured. A total of 7993 unique records were identified, screened, and assessed for eligibility. Results: A total of 32 studies were included: 23 observational studies, 6 randomised controlled trials, and 3 quasi-experimental studies. Almost all studies (n = 31) were conducted in Mediterranean countries. Anthropometrics (n = 19) and body composition (n = 12) were the two most measured outcomes. There was a wide range of athlete ages and calibres and great variability in the outcomes reported; however, there were limited reports for each outcome. Only one RCT reported on specific sport-related performance outcomes. Three RCTs provided individualised dietary recommendations for macronutrients based on sports nutrition guidelines, but only two of them assessed macronutrient intake. Conclusions: This is the first scoping review of MedDiet adherence on outcomes related to sport. We found a limited evidence base across different sports and athletes, with few studies conducted outside of Mediterranean countries. Importantly, more intervention studies are needed to provide high-level causal evidence on the impact of the MedDiet pattern on performance and health outcomes in athletes.

Details

Title: The Relationship Between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Exercise and Sport Performance—A Scoping Review
Authors: Evangeline Mantzioris (Corresponding Author) - University of South Australia
Anthony Villani - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Adrienne Forsyth - Australian Catholic University
Publication details: Nutrients, Vol.16(24), pp.1-23
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.3390/nu16244259
ISSN: 2072-6643
Copyright note: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Data Availability: No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991091194702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Nutrition & Dietetics