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Nu.Me. Nutrition and Metabolism - 2nd International Mediterranean Meeting

The Mediterranean Sea can be defined as an inland sea basin of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Europe to the north, Africa to the south, and Asia to the east. Many consider the Mediterranean to be the most important center in the development of human civilization because the entire history of the ancient world evolved and came to an end within its geographic boundaries: more civilizations rose and succeeded each other on its shores and its islands than in any other part of the globe. The waters of the Mediterranean have been a place of unity and of conflict between peoples, and the Mediterranean diet a point of contact and of mutual awareness. For this reason the Associazione Italiana di Dietetica e Nutrizione Clinica (ADI) has considered it timely to open up to this area and to the collaboration between the scientific organizations and the experts in the countries that border this sea through the holding of an international meeting and the publication of a scientific review that includes the adjective Mediterranean in their title and that deal with nutrition and metabolism.

The first meeting was held in Brindisi, Italy, a logical choice for its geographic position between East and West, and the interest it aroused encourage us to move ahead. The choice of Spain as the setting of the second meeting is motivated by its historical importance in the Mediterranean area and by its great scientific tradition in the fields of nutrition and metabolism.
The topics addressed will be those of diabetes and obesity, with special attention given to the most fragile population groups: children and the undernourished. There is a clear tendency toward an increase in both the incidence and prevalence of obesity and diabetes in all the industrialized countries and in the technologically developing countries. The increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the world has lead the WHO to speak of a real “epidemic.” Terms such as globesity and diabesity are now in common use, and the scientific world agrees in recognizing that if immediate action is not taken there could be very serious health problems for millions of people in the next few years. Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics are innovative fields of research which should lead us to understand increasingly better in what way a food or, better, particular eating habits, interfere in the functioning of the body at the molecular metabolic level. It is a great honor and pleasure for the Associazione Italiana di Dietetica e Nutrizione Clinica to be able to share the experience and the project with the prestigious Sociedad Andaluza de Nutriciòn Clìnica y Dietètica and the Fondazione Universitaria Ibericoamericana, which will make a substantial contribution to the event ‘s success.

The choice of Granada, which is called the true cultural capital of Andalusia, was no mere coincidence, as its geographic location have made it a meeting ground and place where the Iberian, Roman and Islamic cultures have coexisted peacefully. We are confident that this meeting will lead to new and stronger collaborations between those who care about the future of nutrition.

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