Association between Mediterranean diet, lipid profile, and body composition in women aged 18 to 25 years with normal weight

Quispe T.L.B.; Ambilla L.X.A.; Capaquira S.A.M.; Quispe J.R.P.; Chura A.C.J. · Revista Investigaciones y Estudios (2026)

Resumen

The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest eating patterns, associated with the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Its benefits are due to characteristics such as low cost, sustainability, diversity, and flexibility. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the Mediterranean diet, lipid profile, and body composition in women aged 18 to 25 years with normal weight. This cross-sectional study analyzed the relationship between body composition, lipid profile, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in 912 young women with normal weight in Peru. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat percentage) and blood samples for lipid analysis (total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, and triglycerides) were taken. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the “Chilean Mediterranean Diet Index,” adapted and validated for the local context. Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests due to the non-normal distribution of the data. As a result, a statistically significant association was found between greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a lower percentage of body fat (Rho =-0.161; p = 0.000). Likewise, when relating the waist-to-height ratio to adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a significant negative association was found (Rho =-0.140; p = 0.000), indicating that greater compliance with this dietary pattern could be linked to a lower risk of abdominal fat accumulation. In contrast, no significant associations were identified between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and total cholesterol (Rho =-0.059; p = 0.072), LDL cholesterol (Rho =-0.022; p = 0.518), HDL cholesterol (Rho = 0.022; p = 0.513), or triglycerides (Rho =-0.050; p = 0.126). It is concluded that adherence to the Mediterranean diet shows benefits in body composition, specifically in reducing body fat percentage and cardiovascular risk associated with abdominal fat accumulation in women of normal weight. However, its impact on lipid parameters was not significant.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano