P229 - EVALUATING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET: EVIDENCE FROM ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES

P229

EVALUATING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET: EVIDENCE FROM ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES

A. Morsella¹, N. Veronese^2,*, V. Gianfredi³, F. Limongi⁴, F. S. Ragusa⁵, D. Nucci⁶, S. Maggi⁴, M. Silano⁷, L. Rossi⁷, M. Volpe^8,9, M. Zanetti¹⁰, G. Onder¹

¹Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, ²Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome , ³University of Milan, Milan, ⁴National Research Council, Padova, ⁵University of Palermo, Palermo, ⁶Local Health Authority of Brescia, Brescia, ⁷National Health Institute, ⁸University of Rome Sapienza, ⁹IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, ¹⁰University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

Rationale: Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) is well associated with clinical benefits across a wide range of diseases. Evaluating its economic and environmental impact is essential to inform evidence-based policymaking that promotes long-term societal well-being.
This study aims to systematically map the existing evidence on the economic and environmental implications of the MD.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA to identify studies assessing the economic or environmental impact of the MD compared to other diets. Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane, for records published in English or Italian until March 2024. Screening was conducted via Covidence and data extraction followed the NICE Evidence Profile Table.

Results: Sixty-one studies were included. Of these, 23 (38%) examined the economic impact: 12 (52%) reported cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analyses—mainly from health system perspectives—showing savings linked to improved outcomes in cardiovascular, oncological, neurological, and metabolic conditions. Eleven studies (48%) assessed societal costs, indicating that higher adherence often entails increased food expenditure. Thirty-eight studies (62%)  assessed environmental impacts via life cycle assessment, highlighting reduced greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption with higher MD adherence in 76% of records, with the rest being comparisons to diets low in animal products.

Conclusion: The MD is a promising public health strategy, with clinical, environmental, and economic benefits. However, its associated household costs must be addressed in clinical and policy recommendations to avoid exacerbating health inequalities.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared