
The Mediterranean diet is one of the most popular dietary patterns, based on the traditional eating habits of countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. It is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's, among other benefits. The Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED) is an adaptation of the original Mediterranean diet score, with both versions consistently linked to a reduction in the incidence of chronic diseases. The aMED is based on scoring most food components relative to the population medians, taking into account factors such as prevailing attitudes toward eating and exercise, regional cuisine, and the availability of certain food items.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score |
| Other Names | aMED, aMDS |
| Purpose | To reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality |
| Scoring | Component score = 1, if the criterion is met; 0, otherwise |
| Population | The diet is population-dependent, with different populations requiring different score cut-offs |
| Sample Population | 193,527 men and women aged 45-75 from Hawaii and Los Angeles |
| Associations | Positively associated with skeletal muscle mass index in middle-aged adults |
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What You'll Learn
- The alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMDS) is positively associated with skeletal muscle mass index in middle-aged adults
- The alternate Mediterranean diet is linked to a reduction in the incidence of CVD, stroke, cancer, and diabetes
- The alternate Mediterranean diet is an adaptation of the original Mediterranean diet score
- The alternate Mediterranean diet is associated with better colorectal cancer survival in African American women
- The alternate Mediterranean diet is based on scoring most food components relative to the population medians

The alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMDS) is positively associated with skeletal muscle mass index in middle-aged adults
The Mediterranean diet is one of the most popular dietary patterns, with robust data and long-term sustainability supporting its health benefits. The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) is an adaptation of the original Mediterranean diet, with both versions consistently linked to a reduction in the incidence of chronic diseases, including CVD, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
The Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMDS) is a scoring system that assesses an individual's adherence to the aMED. It is calculated by assigning points for consuming specific foods, with higher points given for higher intakes of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and fish, as well as a higher ratio of MUFA:SFA (monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids). Lower points are given for higher intakes of red meat and moderate ethanol consumption.
A community-based cross-sectional study in Guangzhou, China, examined the association between aMDS and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in 2230 females and 1059 males aged 40-75. The study found that higher aMDS was positively associated with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in males at all studied sites, including the whole body, limbs, arms, and legs. The SMI means were significantly higher in the high aMDS category compared to the low aMDS category, with values of 2.70% for the whole body, 2.65% for limbs, 2.50% for arms, and 2.70% for legs.
Additionally, age-stratified results showed that the favorable associations between aMDS and SMI were more substantial in younger participants compared to older subjects, in both males and females. However, no statistically significant interaction was observed between aMDS and SMI in either males or females.
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The alternate Mediterranean diet is linked to a reduction in the incidence of CVD, stroke, cancer, and diabetes
The Mediterranean diet is one of the most popular dietary patterns, and for good reason. It is linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, cancer, and diabetes. The traditional Mediterranean diet emphasises a high intake of fruits, vegetables, bread, other forms of cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts, and seeds. It includes olive oil as a major fat source, and dairy products, fish, and poultry are consumed in low to moderate amounts. Red meat is typically avoided.
The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) is an adaptation of the traditional Mediterranean diet. It is based on scoring most food components relative to population medians, making it population-dependent. The scoring system for the aMED is as follows: a component score of 1 is given if the criterion is met, and 0 if it is not. The medians for all components are established separately for men and women.
Both the traditional and alternate Mediterranean diets have been consistently linked with a reduction in the incidence of CVD, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. One study examined the association of aMED and aMED-e (energy-standardized) with mortality using Cox regression, with an adjustment for total energy intake. The correlation between aMED and aMED-e total scores was lower among people with a higher body mass index.
The Mediterranean diet is also associated with improved brain, gut, and cardiovascular health, as well as a reduced risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. It is considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns based on robust data and long-term sustainability. Experts say you can achieve extra health benefits by limiting your eating window and consuming foods with a variety of different colours throughout the day.
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The alternate Mediterranean diet is an adaptation of the original Mediterranean diet score
The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) is an adaptation of the original Mediterranean diet score. Both traditional and alternate Mediterranean diet scores have been linked to a reduction in the incidence of CVD, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. The aMED is based on scoring most food components relative to the population medians, making it population-dependent. This means that different populations under study would have varying score cut-off points.
The population-based scoring method used in the aMED has its advantages and drawbacks. On the one hand, it allows for flexibility, as populations may differ in various ways, such as attitudes towards eating and exercise, regional cuisine, and the availability of certain foods. This flexibility means that the composition of a diet score can be adjusted to fine-tune a dietary index. On the other hand, this approach makes it difficult to compare studies directly, as the same score in two populations may not represent the same level of intake.
The aMED has been studied in relation to its association with health outcomes, specifically mortality. One study examined the differences in participants' total and component scores and compared the association of raw aMED (aMED) and energy-standardized aMED (aMED-e) with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. The study found that the correlation between aMED and aMED-e total scores was lower among people with a higher body mass index. However, it is unclear how the diet scores and their association with health outcomes differ between the two versions.
The aMED has also been studied in relation to skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in middle-aged adults. The results showed a favourable association between aMDS and SMI in both male and female participants. In males, food components with significant associations included vegetables, fruits, red and processed meats, fish, and the ratio of MUFA:SFA. In females, vegetables and fruits were also significantly associated with SMI.
In addition to its health benefits, the Mediterranean diet is one of the most popular dietary patterns due to its long-term sustainability and robustness of data. The Alternate Mediterranean Diet, as an adaptation of the traditional Mediterranean diet, offers a flexible approach that can be tailored to different populations while still providing potential health benefits.
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The alternate Mediterranean diet is associated with better colorectal cancer survival in African American women
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 65%. Thus, it is crucial to identify modifiable health factors that can improve CRC survival rates. The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) is one such factor that has been linked to better CRC survival rates, specifically in African American women.
The aMED is an adaptation of the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is already known for its health benefits and popularity. The Mediterranean diet is plant-forward, focusing on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and a smaller amount of carbs, meat, and animal products. The alternate version of this diet builds on these principles and is based on scoring most food components relative to population medians. This means that the specific foods and quantities may vary depending on the population under study.
In a study of over 215,000 African American, Native Hawaiian, Japanese American, Latino, and white adults living in Hawaii and California, researchers investigated the association between four prediagnostic diet quality indexes and CRC-specific and all-cause mortality. The results showed that a higher aMED score was associated with lower CRC-specific and all-cause mortality in women, specifically African American women, but not in men. This finding was limited to one of the five ethnic groups studied and should be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of cases within ethnic groups.
The study's results suggest that the aMED may be a beneficial dietary pattern for African American women diagnosed with CRC, but further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms. The aMED's flexibility and ability to be tailored to different populations may contribute to its potential health benefits.
In conclusion, the Alternate Mediterranean Diet is associated with better colorectal cancer survival rates in African American women, and it may be a promising dietary intervention for this specific demographic. However, more research is needed to fully understand the impact of the aMED on CRC survival and to personalize the diet for individuals.
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The alternate Mediterranean diet is based on scoring most food components relative to the population medians
The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and reduced risk of all-cause mortality. The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) is an adaptation of the traditional Mediterranean diet. It is based on scoring most food components relative to the population medians. This means that the diet is population-dependent, with different populations under study requiring different score cut-off points. For example, medians for all components were established separately for men and women in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC).
The scoring system for the aMED is simple: a component score of 1 is given if the criterion is met, and 0 if it is not. The MEC included a large number of African-American, Native Hawaiian, Japanese-American, Latino, and white adults living in Hawaii and California. One study found that only the aMED was associated with better colorectal cancer survival, and only in African American women in the MEC. Another study found a favourable association between aMED and skeletal muscle mass index in middle-aged adults.
The aMED has been linked to a reduction in the incidence of CVD, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and reduced risk of all-cause mortality. However, it is unclear how the diet scores and their association with health outcomes differ between the raw (aMED) and energy-standardized (aMED-e) versions. Some studies have used raw component intakes to compute the total score and then adjusted the models for energy intake, while others have used energy-adjusted and energy-standardized component intakes in the computation of the total score (aMED-e).
The aMED is a flexible approach to dieting that can be tailored to the specific needs and preferences of individuals. It takes into account factors such as cultural and religious preferences, as well as environmental challenges. The diet recommends eating more fruits and vegetables, consuming less red meat, and choosing whole grains over refined grains.
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Frequently asked questions
The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) is an adaptation of the traditional Mediterranean diet. It is based on scoring most food components relative to the population medians.
The Alternate Mediterranean Diet has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and lower risk of all-cause mortality. It has also been associated with a positive skeletal muscle mass index in middle-aged adults.
The diet scores food components with a score of 1 if the criterion is met and 0 if it is not. The medians for all components are established separately for men and women.











































