Clara Cortés

Introduction: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality in older adults. However, in aging populations, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and functional limitations may act as barriers to maintaining adequate dietary patterns. Evidence on how these factors jointly relate to MD adherence in vulnerable elderly populations remains limited. This study aimed to assess the association between chronic conditions, drug consumption, functional status, and autonomy in activities of daily living (ADL) with MD adherence in older adults. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample of 454 non-institutionalized adults aged ≥60 years from eastern Spain, all users of public social services. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, chronic diseases (ICD-11), medication use (ATC classification), functional limitations, and ADL autonomy were collected through structured interviews. MD adherence was assessed using the 14-item PREDIMED questionnaire. Multivariable generalized linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between health-related factors and PREDIMED score, adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. Results: Higher MD adherence was independently associated with full autonomy in housekeeping activities (β = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.27–1.36) and absence of limb limitations (β = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.07–1.16). In contrast, dependence in food preparation (β = −0.46; 95% CI: −0.89 to −0.03), use of nervous system medications (β = −0.20; 95% CI: −0.33 to −0.07), and gastrointestinal drug consumption (β = −0.18; 95% CI: −0.35 to −0.01) were inversely associated with MD adherence. Additionally, the presence of non-specific clinical conditions classified under ICD-11 was negatively associated with PREDIMED scores (β = −0.61; 95% CI: −1.05 to −0.17). Conclusions: In this vulnerable elderly population, functional dependence and polypharmacy were consistently associated with lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet. These findings suggest that dietary quality in older adults is closely linked to functional capacity and clinical burden, highlighting the need for integrated nutritional and care strategies targeting frail populations. Due to the cross-sectional design and non-representative sample, causal inferences cannot be established

Orange peel (OP) is a relevant by-product of the citrus industry, rich in phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid (AA), but its sustainable valorization requires green and efficient extraction strategies. In this study, six natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) selected via COSMOTherm solubility modelling were evaluated for the recovery of bioactive compounds from OP using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) followed by a stirring treatment. The influence of sonication time (5–15 min), ultrasound power (100–400 W), and stirring time (0–45 min) was assessed by quantifying total phenolic content (TPC), AA, and antioxidant capacity, while monitoring energy consumption to ensure process sustainability. NADES showed solvent-dependent extraction behavior, with most systems following a rise–plateau pattern, indicating extraction equilibrium at 20–30 min of stirring, whereas prolonged treatment (45 min) offered minimal or inconsistent improvement despite markedly higher energy input. Considering extractive performance and energy efficiency, optimal conditions were defined as 10 min UAE at 100 W followed by 40 min stirring. Method validation under these conditions included the quantification of individual phenolic compounds and AA by HPLC-UV/VIS and antioxidant assessment by FRAP and ORAC. Among solvents, MA:Glu and LA:Glu yielded the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, while the extraction profiles confirmed the selectivity of NADES toward flavanones such as hesperidin and naringin. Overall, the study demonstrates that tailored NADES–UAE combinations constitute an effective and sustainable approach for recovering high-value antioxidants from orange peel, contributing to circular economy strategies and green extraction technologies.

Citrus byproducts, particularly orange peel, represent a valuable source of phenolic compounds with recognized antioxidant and health-promoting properties. However, conventional extraction methods often rely on organic solvents, raising environmental and safety concerns. To address these limitations, this study proposes a green and sustainable approach for phenolic recovery using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) combined with macroporous resins. Four NADES formulations and three resin types (HP2MG, HP20, XAD-7) were evaluated. Process optimization was performed only for the resin-based recovery/purification step using response surface methodology (RSM) with a Central composite design, evaluating the extract-to-resin ratio, contact time, washing water volume, and resin type. Total phenolic content (TPC) was quantified by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and phenolic profiles were characterized by LC–MS. Optimal conditions included 1 g of resin per 6 mL of extract, 40 min stirring, 15 mL washing water, and XAD-7 resin. Under these conditions, TPC recovery exceeded 70% for all NADES, reaching 94.59% for LA:Glu. NADES recycling was feasible, with residual phenolics below 3%. Chromatographic analysis revealed that ChChl:LP:MA combined with XAD-7 achieved the highest recovery for key compounds such as ferulic acid (217.07 µg/mL), narirutin (43.77 µg/mL), and hesperidin (60.00 µg/mL). Differences in recovery efficiency were attributed to the polarity and viscosity of NADES and the physicochemical properties of the resins. These findings demonstrate that NADES–resin systems are an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional extraction methods, enabling the valorization of citrus byproducts and supporting circular economy strategies.

Diets will likely play a crucial role in the Anthropocene to support the population’s health and safeguard environmental sustainability for future generations. Based on a cross-sectional–observational–descriptive design for evaluating an entire menu proposal, data on the type and composition of the menus offered by a university catering service during an academic year were collected. Each day during the meal service, 10 plates of the same option offered were weighed, and 10 photographs were taken. With these data, the nutritional value and carbon footprint were evaluated for all possible combinations of first and second courses, while including the average values of other components of the menu (garnishes, bread, desserts, and beverages). The annual menu proposal resulted in 6478 combinations of first and second courses plus the other components. The average caloric intake was 1194 kcal/menu with high consumption of proteins and lipids, and the average carbon footprint was 1.86 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq)/menu, with the second course being the major contributor. Creating menus that consider these two essential parameters is the task of specialists. Achieving food consumption that balances nutrition and environmental sustainability is another issue of education and communication.