Evidence mapPaperPMID 40170125Full record

SynthesisBMC nutrition2025

Mediterranean diet and diabetic microvascular complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diar Zooravar, Pedram Soltani, Saeed Khezri

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Diar ZooravarSchool of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box, Tehran, 14836-76479, Iran. diarzooravar@gmail.com.
Pedram SoltaniSchool of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box, Tehran, 14836-76479, Iran.
Saeed KhezriSchool of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box, Tehran, 14836-76479, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiabetic microvascular complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic nephropathy (DN), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), contribute significantly to morbidity and healthcare burdens among individuals with diabetes. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with improved metabolic health, but its role in mitigating microvascular complications remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of MD adherence on the risk and progression of these complications.

methodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus was conducted through February 12, 2025 to identify studies evaluating MD adherence and diabetic microvascular complications. Meta-analysis was performed where possible, with effect sizes reported as odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

resultsFourteen studies, encompassing 138 to 71,392 participants, were included. Meta-analysis indicated a significant reduction in DR risk among individuals adhering to the MD (HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.97, p = 0.03; OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12-0.82, p = 0.02). A lower likelihood of DN development was observed (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73-0.99, p = 0.04; OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25-0.96, p = 0.04). However, results for diabetic neuropathy were inconclusive due to study heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses revealed notable heterogeneity and publication bias was detected in some analyses.

conclusionAdherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy, supporting its potential as a dietary intervention for diabetes management. However, the evidence for neuropathy remains inconclusive. Future well-controlled randomized trials are needed to strengthen causal inferences and refine clinical recommendations for MD-based interventions in diabetic microvascular complications.

Indexed as

Diabetic nephropathyDiabetic neuropathyDiabetic retinopathyMediterranean diet

Identifiers

PMID40170125
PMCPMC11963465

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.