Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Human Health in Seniors: Relationship with Telomers

Mediterranean diet is one of the most healthy dietary patterns in the world associated with low morbidity and mortality among elderly people. In fact, strong evidences are showing that Mediterranean diet is associated with lower incidence of many age-related diseases, impacting on public health and potentially increasing the lifespan. Telomeres are the caps at the end of our chromosome, protecting it from damage and regulating cellular senescence. As people age, telomeres get shorter which is associated with increased age-related disease risk and early death. Numerous evidences are showing that Mediterranean diet slows telomere shortening along with aging, which may represent the mechanism by which such a diet may boost longevity. In this chapter, we will discuss about the effect of Mediterranean diet on human health among elderly people, and in particular, we will look over the most recent evidences about its relationship with telomere dynamics.