By Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc.May 27 2024Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. In a recent study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, researchers investigated the environmental impact of a Mediterranean diet with reduced energy intake over one year in participants with metabolic syndrome.
It also impacts agriculture and livestock, reducing food quantity and quality. With the global population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, the need for food will escalate, intensifying the environmental impact of food systems, which are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, acidification, freshwater use, and biodiversity loss.
Related StoriesThis study utilized data collected during the PREDIMED-Plus trial, a multicentre, randomized eight-year study conducted in Spain. The trial included 6,874 participants, aged 55-75 for men and 60-75 for women, all with metabolic syndrome but without any cardiovascular disease in their medical history.
Findings The study found significant decreases in environmental effect factors between the intervention and control groups. Specifically, the intervention group showed greater reductions in acidification , eutrophication , and land use .