ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of dietary intake in telomere (TL) homeostasis specifically addressing the impact of a Mediterranean dietary (MeDiet) pattern. It summarizes the available literature on the relationship between telomeres and obesity elucidating the potential mechanisms involved in this important connection. TL is strongly influenced by genetic factors with heritability estimates ranging from 36 to 84". There is also evidence that lifestyle factors may modify the health and lifespan of an individual by changing TL. The chapter focuses on the influence of food item related to the Mediterranean diet on TL. Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease characterized by the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the adipose tissue, as a result of a positive balance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress linked to obesity have been related to accelerated telomere shortening. The most common method of measuring obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI).
