Association between adherence to Mediterranean diet and serum nitric oxide levels in a cohort of elderly from north-east of Italy from PANGeA study

Mediterranean diet, associated with greater longevity and quality of life, is characterized by high intake of polyphenols. Poyphenols have beneficial effects that must be mediated by Nitric Oxide (NO). To test an association between NO levels and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet, volonters (60 and 80 years) were enrolled in PANGeA project and underwent a questionnaire. Score adherence to Mediterranean diet (MDS) was based on the assumption frequency of 90 alimentary items, later assembled into 13 macro-categories, considering their relative importance in the Mediterranean diet pyramid. NO levels was measured with Griess method. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum NO concentration and MDS. NO levels not correlate with alimentary items but correlate positively with red meat and sliced meat score and negatively with legumes score. In our population, the adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with an increase in serum nitric oxide levels.