Lost in translation: Are Mediterranean dietary recommendations appropriate for people of East Asian ethnicity?

Project summary: The health benefits associated with consumption of the Mediterranean diet are widely recognised, and multiple clinical trials have demonstrated improvements in body mass index, glucose control, cognitive health and cardiovascular risk factors when research participants follow a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern (1). While it appears that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet are transferable to Caucasian individuals living in Western countries outside of the Mediterranean region, the cardio-metabolic and cultural acceptability of the diet on people of East Asian ethnicity remain unknown. It has been previously demonstrated that people of Asian ethnicity indeed have a different lipid response after a dietary intervention than those of Caucasians (2). Our research team plans to address this gap in the future by conducting clinical studies involving people of East Asian ethnicity. Aims: 1.To conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature to explore what is currently known about the physiological effects and cultural acceptability of following a Mediterranean-style diet on people of East-Asian ethnicity. This review will identify potential opportunities for future research in this population group. 2.To develop and pilot-test meals for a post-prandial clinical study to investigate their acute physiological effects and evaluate the cultural acceptance of the meals on people of East Asian Ethnicity These meals will be based on aspects of an East Asian diet but will be modified to closely adhere to Mediterranean diet principles. Significance: This work will contribute to the design and conduct of future studies which aim to determine whether current international recommendations to adhere more closely to a Mediterranean-style eating pattern is beneficial or appropriate for the people of East Asian ethnicity. Skills acquired: literature searching, synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research data, scientific writing, study design and meal development, nutritional analysis, qualitative data collection techniques, thematic analysis. Essential skills of applicant: Chinese language skills (reading, writing and speaking); experience of working as a dietitian in Australia Desirable skills of applicant: Research experience, publication experience References: 1. Rees K, et al. Mediterranean-style diet for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;3(3):CD009825. 2. Wulan, S.N., Schrauwen-Hinderling, V.B., Westerterp, K.R. et al. Substrate utilization and metabolic profile in response to overfeeding with a high-fat diet in South Asian and white men: a sedentary lifestyle study. Int J Obes 44, 136–146 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0368-2