The Application of Mediterranean Diet in Common Diseases during Adolescence
Research Article
Open Access
CC BY

The Application of Mediterranean Diet in Common Diseases during Adolescence

Jiatong Lou 1*
1 Cushing academy
*Corresponding author: jiatonglou26@cushing.org
Published on 2 October 2025
Journal Cover
TNS Vol.140
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-399-4
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-400-7
Download Cover

Abstract

Adolescence marks a phase of drastic physiological and psychological transformations in individuals, characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics, significant hormone fluctuations, a heightened sense of independence, and shifts in social roles. This period is often plagued by health issues such as acne, obesity, and depression, which can profoundly impact adolescents' quality of life and future prospects. Given the potential drawbacks of traditional pharmacological treatments, including side effects, poor adherence, and high costs, it is imperative to seek out safe, effective, and easily incorporable supplementary or preventive strategies for daily life. This article delves into the mechanisms and clinical evidence supporting the Mediterranean diet pattern (centered around olive oil, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish) in mitigating acne severity, tackling obesity and its metabolic complications, and alleviating depressive symptoms. Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet exerts a synergistic protective effect on common adolescent ailments through various pathways, including modulating the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway, enhancing lipid metabolism, decreasing systemic chronic inflammation, and optimizing gut microbiota composition. Moreover, it encapsulates the essence of sustainable healthy living and offers a pivotal pathway for the comprehensive management of adolescent conditions.

Keywords:

Adolescence, Mediterranean diet pattern, acne, obesity, depression

View PDF
Lou,J. (2025). The Application of Mediterranean Diet in Common Diseases during Adolescence. Theoretical and Natural Science,140,1-7.

References

[1]. Di Nucci A, et al. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Health Outcomes in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review. Nutr Rev. 2025 Mar 1; 83(3): e1329-e1342.

[2]. Sawyer SM, Azzopardi PS, Wickremarathne D, Patton GC. The age of adolescence. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2018 Mar; 2(3): 223-228.

[3]. Liu YT, et al. Recommendations for managing adult acne and adolescent acne based on an epidemiological study conducted in China. Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 15; 14(1): 16327.

[4]. Hu Liping, CAI Hua, Tang Lu, et al. Research Progress on the Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on metabolism-related diseases [J]. Medical Information, 2023, 36(22): 183-188.

[5]. Bibiloni MDM, et al. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 30; 11(4): 754.

[6]. Sofi F, et al.Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2025 Aug; 35(8): 103919.

[7]. Yan Mi, Sun Li, Chen Zongtao. Research progress on the impact of Mediterranean diet on the health of elderly people with "three highs" [J]. Journal of Practical Clinical Medicine, 2022, 26(16): 144-148

[8]. Zhu Z, et al. Global, regional and national burdens of acne vulgaris in adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years from 1990 to 2021: a trend analysis. Br J Dermatol. 2025 Jan 24; 192(2): 228-237.

[9]. Kutlu Ö, et al. Adult acne versus adolescent acne: a narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment. An Bras Dermatol. 2023 Jan-Feb; 98(1): 75-83.

[10]. Bertolani M, et al. The influence of Mediterranean diet in acne pathogenesis and the correlation with insulin-like growth factor-1 serum levels: Implications and results. Dermatol Reports. 2021 Dec 17; 14(1): 9143.

[11]. Ah-Thiane L, et al. Lifestyle habits and impact of the Mediterranean diet on facial acne severity in French women: a case-control study. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2022 May 13; 8(2): e017.

[12]. Guertler A, et al. Exploring the potential of omega-3 fatty acids in acne patients: A prospective intervention study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024 Oct; 23(10): 3295-3304.

[13]. Boqué N, et al. Study Protocol of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial to Tackle Obesity through a Mediterranean Diet vs. a Traditional Low-Fat Diet in Adolescents: The MED4Youth Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 1; 18(9): 4841.

[14]. Seral-Cortes M, et al. Interaction Effect of the Mediterranean Diet and an Obesity Genetic Risk Score on Adiposity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents: The HELENA Study. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 16; 12(12): 3841.

[15]. López-Gil JF, et al. Mediterranean Diet-Based Interventions to Improve Anthropometric and Obesity Indicators in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Adv Nutr. 2023 Jul; 14(4): 858-869.

[16]. Larruy-García A, et al. Diet Quality Scores, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Obes Rep. 2024 Dec; 13(4): 755-788.

[17]. Masini A, Dallolio L, Sanmarchi F, Lovecchio F, Falato M, Longobucco Y, Lanari M, Sacchetti R. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Children and Adolescents and Association with Multiple Outcomes: An Umbrella Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Feb 9; 12(4): 449.

[18]. Chen Weikang, Linghu Ting, Ren Yan. Advances in the study of the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of depression [J]. Chinese Herbal Medicine, 2025, 56(11): 4090-4102.

[19]. Guo X, et al. Biological links between psychological factors and adolescent depression: childhood trauma, rumination, and resilience. BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Dec 18; 24(1): 907.

[20]. Qian K, et al. Association of dietary patterns with depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Front Nutr. 2023 Jul 11; 10: 1180858.

[21]. Dean J, Keshavan M. The neurobiology of depression: An integrated view. Asian J Psychiatr. 2017 Jun; 27: 101-111.

[22]. Zielińska M, et al. The Mediterranean Diet and the Western Diet in Adolescent Depression-Current Reports. Nutrients. 2022 Oct 19; 14(20): 4390.

[23]. Camprodon-Boadas P, et al. Mediterranean Diet and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Nutr Rev. 2025 Feb 1; 83(2): e343-e355.

[24]. Diamantis DV, et al, Linos A. Health-Related Quality of Life in Childhood and Adolescence: The Interrelation with Level of Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Trajectories: Highlights from the DIATROFI Program (2021-2022). Nutrients. 2023 Apr 10; 15(8): 1829.

References

[1]. Di Nucci A, et al. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Health Outcomes in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review. Nutr Rev. 2025 Mar 1; 83(3): e1329-e1342.

[2]. Sawyer SM, Azzopardi PS, Wickremarathne D, Patton GC. The age of adolescence. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2018 Mar; 2(3): 223-228.

[3]. Liu YT, et al. Recommendations for managing adult acne and adolescent acne based on an epidemiological study conducted in China. Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 15; 14(1): 16327.

[4]. Hu Liping, CAI Hua, Tang Lu, et al. Research Progress on the Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on metabolism-related diseases [J]. Medical Information, 2023, 36(22): 183-188.

[5]. Bibiloni MDM, et al. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 30; 11(4): 754.

[6]. Sofi F, et al.Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2025 Aug; 35(8): 103919.

[7]. Yan Mi, Sun Li, Chen Zongtao. Research progress on the impact of Mediterranean diet on the health of elderly people with "three highs" [J]. Journal of Practical Clinical Medicine, 2022, 26(16): 144-148

[8]. Zhu Z, et al. Global, regional and national burdens of acne vulgaris in adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years from 1990 to 2021: a trend analysis. Br J Dermatol. 2025 Jan 24; 192(2): 228-237.

[9]. Kutlu Ö, et al. Adult acne versus adolescent acne: a narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment. An Bras Dermatol. 2023 Jan-Feb; 98(1): 75-83.

[10]. Bertolani M, et al. The influence of Mediterranean diet in acne pathogenesis and the correlation with insulin-like growth factor-1 serum levels: Implications and results. Dermatol Reports. 2021 Dec 17; 14(1): 9143.

[11]. Ah-Thiane L, et al. Lifestyle habits and impact of the Mediterranean diet on facial acne severity in French women: a case-control study. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2022 May 13; 8(2): e017.

[12]. Guertler A, et al. Exploring the potential of omega-3 fatty acids in acne patients: A prospective intervention study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024 Oct; 23(10): 3295-3304.

[13]. Boqué N, et al. Study Protocol of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial to Tackle Obesity through a Mediterranean Diet vs. a Traditional Low-Fat Diet in Adolescents: The MED4Youth Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 1; 18(9): 4841.

[14]. Seral-Cortes M, et al. Interaction Effect of the Mediterranean Diet and an Obesity Genetic Risk Score on Adiposity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents: The HELENA Study. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 16; 12(12): 3841.

[15]. López-Gil JF, et al. Mediterranean Diet-Based Interventions to Improve Anthropometric and Obesity Indicators in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Adv Nutr. 2023 Jul; 14(4): 858-869.

[16]. Larruy-García A, et al. Diet Quality Scores, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Obes Rep. 2024 Dec; 13(4): 755-788.

[17]. Masini A, Dallolio L, Sanmarchi F, Lovecchio F, Falato M, Longobucco Y, Lanari M, Sacchetti R. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Children and Adolescents and Association with Multiple Outcomes: An Umbrella Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Feb 9; 12(4): 449.

[18]. Chen Weikang, Linghu Ting, Ren Yan. Advances in the study of the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of depression [J]. Chinese Herbal Medicine, 2025, 56(11): 4090-4102.

[19]. Guo X, et al. Biological links between psychological factors and adolescent depression: childhood trauma, rumination, and resilience. BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Dec 18; 24(1): 907.

[20]. Qian K, et al. Association of dietary patterns with depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Front Nutr. 2023 Jul 11; 10: 1180858.

[21]. Dean J, Keshavan M. The neurobiology of depression: An integrated view. Asian J Psychiatr. 2017 Jun; 27: 101-111.

[22]. Zielińska M, et al. The Mediterranean Diet and the Western Diet in Adolescent Depression-Current Reports. Nutrients. 2022 Oct 19; 14(20): 4390.

[23]. Camprodon-Boadas P, et al. Mediterranean Diet and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Nutr Rev. 2025 Feb 1; 83(2): e343-e355.

[24]. Diamantis DV, et al, Linos A. Health-Related Quality of Life in Childhood and Adolescence: The Interrelation with Level of Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Trajectories: Highlights from the DIATROFI Program (2021-2022). Nutrients. 2023 Apr 10; 15(8): 1829.

Cite this article

Lou,J. (2025). The Application of Mediterranean Diet in Common Diseases during Adolescence. Theoretical and Natural Science,140,1-7.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: Interdisciplinary Frontiers in Pharmaceutical Sciences

ISBN: 978-1-80590-399-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-400-7(Online)
Editor: Alan Wang, Xiangdong Xue
Conference website: https://www.icbiomed.org/shanghai.html
Conference date: 11 September 2025
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.140
ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

© 2024 by the author(s). Licensee EWA Publishing, Oxford, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors who publish this series agree to the following terms:

1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this series.

2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this series.

3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See Open access policy for details).

For authors
For editors
For reviewers

Cookies are used by this site.
Copyright © 2024 EWA Publishing, its licensors, and contributors. All rights reserved, including text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.