MAGISNAT the Spin Off Company Studying the Mediterranean Diet.

We start with some questions to its CEO, Dr. Matteo Bertelli:

Q. Is there any scientific research conducted by University groups that has looked for a correlation between the Mediterranean diet and susceptibility to chronic diseases or COVID?

A. Many studies have demonstrated that following the Mediterranean diet plays a role in reducing the risk of developing many chronic diseases (e.g. the cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes) that have chronic systemic inflammation as the key underlying feature; moreover, some of these studies focus specifically on the benefits provided by a daily intake of olives and olive oil, which are rich in polyphenols. Research has also shown that the risk of chronic disease may be increased by diets such that (unlike the Mediterranean style diet) are high in refined starches, sugars and poor quality fats, and low in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and omega 3 fatty acids.

In a recently published work, “Ferro Y, Pujia R, Maurotti S, Boragina G, Mirarchi A, Gnagnarella P, Mazza E. Mediterranean Diet a Potential Strategy against SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Narrative Review. Medicine (Kaunas). 2021 Dec 20;57(12):1389.doi: 10.3390/medicina57121389. PMID: 34946334; PMCID: PMC8704657,” the authors hypothesized that the Mediterranean diet being rich in olive tree polyphenols and vitamins can help COVID prevention.

The recent publication “Ponzo V, Pellegrini M, D’Eusebio C, Bioletto F, Goitre I, Buscemi S, Frea S, Ghigo E, Bo S. Mediterranean Diet and SARS-COV-2 Infection: Is There Any Association? A Proof-of-Concept Study. Nutrients. 2021 May 19;13(5):1721. doi: 10.3390/nu13051721. PMID: 34069656; PMCID: PMC8160854.” carried out an observational study, in which the researchers related adherence to the Mediterranean diet and severity of COVID disease symptoms. The study concludes those who follow Mediterranean diet have a reduced risk of developing a severe form of the disease.

Finally, also these two published research papers are very telling on these matters: “Greene MW, Roberts AP, Frugé AD. Negative Association Between Mediterranean Diet Adherence and COVID-19 Cases and Related Deaths in Spain and 23 OECD Countries: An Ecological Study. Front Nutr. 2021 Mar 5:8:591964.doi:10.3389/fnut. 2021.591964. PMID: 33748170; PMCID:PMC797 3012” and “Perez-Araluce R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Fernández-Lázaro CI, Bes-Rastrollo M, Gea A, Carlos S. Mediterranean diet and the risk of COVID-19 in the ‘Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra’ cohort. Clin Nutr. 2021 Apr 15:S0261-5614(21)0190-4. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2021.04.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33934925; PMCID: PMC8047333”.

Concluding, the Mediterranean diet is a normocaloric diet to meet an active or very active style of life.

Besides promoting the Mediterranean diet and physical activity, MAGISNAT, aware of the life-styles of modern society, is collaborating with various university groups to develop a line of supplements consisting exclusively of beneficial bioactive molecules present in plants of the Mediterranean diet. The first are GARLIVE RECOVERY, based on olive polyphenols and vitamins in high doses and GARLIVE oral spray based on olive polyphenols. Our aim is to help those seeking sources of the beneficial substances found in plants of the Mediterranean diet to reduce calorie intake to normocaloric levels through a balanced diet according to the principles of the Mediterranean diet and to promote physical activity.