Effectiveness of a Nutritional Intervention in Improving the Mediterranean Diet in Older Adults

Introduction: The Mediterranean diet has been related to beneficial effects in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic pathologies related to diet, including some types of cancer. Specifically in the elderly population, it has been observed that the Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with all causes of mortality and that the greater the adherence to this type of diet, the lower the mortality in elderly adults.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multifactorial intervention (seminar on shopping basket and food labeling, workshop on healthy cooking and subsequent tasting of the prepared products) in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet in older adults.

Methodology: Randomized controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups: an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). The study population will be adults over 60 years of age, retired or pre-retired. A sample size of 200 participants has been estimated, 100 in each group to detect a difference of 0.83 points or more in the MEDAS questionnaire.

All participants will receive an educational talk on healthy nutrition, with an estimated duration of 2 hours. The GI, in addition to this educational workshop, will receive a practical seminar on how to properly carry out the shopping cart. This will take place both in a market and later in a supermarket in Salamanca. In addition, a workshop will be held where participants will prepare a menu consisting of three dishes (starter, main and dessert) and will later taste them.

An initial and post-intervention evaluation will be carried out after 3 months so that both groups can study the change variables related to Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet [Mediterranean Diet Adherence Questionnaire (MEDAS)], physical activity [Short physical performance battery (SPPB)], sleep quality (ATENAS questionnaire) and assessment of cognitive function (MOCA questionnaire).