concept

MED

Also known as: Mediterranean Diet Score

Facts (12)

Sources

Global dietary quality in 185 countries from 1990 to 2018 show wide ... nature.com Nature Sep 19, 2022 12 facts

measurementGlobal mean DASH and MED scores were higher among more educated individuals compared to less educated individuals, with differences of +2.6 for DASH and +0.3 for MED.

procedureThe absolute difference in DASH and MED component scores by urban versus rural residence in 2018 was computed by calculating the difference at the stratum-level and aggregating to global and regional mean differences using weighted population proportions.

measurementIn 2018, the global mean DASH score was 22.9 and the global mean MED score was 4.1.

measurementIn 2018, the inter-correlations of dietary pattern scores were 0.8 for AHEI and DASH, 0.5 for AHEI and MED, and 0.6 for DASH and MED.

measurementWorldwide, the mean DASH and MED scores increased between 1990 and 2018 by +1.0 for DASH and +0.3 for MED.

procedureThe absolute difference in DASH and MED component scores by education level in 2018 was computed by calculating the difference at the stratum-level and aggregating to global and regional mean differences using weighted population proportions for low (<6 years) and high (≥12 years) education levels, excluding the intermediate category.

claimThe dietary patterns selected for the study (AHEI, MED, and DASH) were originally developed and validated for adult populations in high-income countries but have been used to characterize dietary quality among children and seniors.

procedureThe absolute difference in DASH and MED scores between 2018 and 1990 was computed by calculating the difference at the stratum-level and aggregating to global and regional mean differences using weighted population proportions for 2018.

measurementGlobal DASH and MED scores were higher among adults compared with children (DASH: 23.2 vs 22.3; MED: 4.3 vs 3.7), but did not appreciably differ by sex.

claimThe study lacked information on trans fat (for the AHEI metric) and alcohol use (for the AHEI and MED metrics), meaning findings should be interpreted as dietary quality based on the other components of these scores.

claimThe researchers characterized three established metrics for diet quality (AHEI, MED, and DASH), each validated against major health outcomes, to analyze similarities and differences in global, regional, and national dietary quality.

claimRegionally, DASH and MED scores were consistently higher in South Asia and lower in Latin America and the Caribbean.