Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (552 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Adjusting the quantity and quality of food intake to improve health status of an individual. This term does not include the methods of food intake (nutritional support).
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Diet Therapies; Therapy, Diet; Dietary Modification; Dietary Modifications; Modification, Dietary; Diet Modification; Diet Modifications; Modification, Diet.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Nutrition Therapy
- Narrower topics
- Caloric Restriction; Diet, Carbohydrate Loading; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Diet, Diabetic; Diet, Fat-Restricted; Diet, Gluten-Free; Diet, High-Protein; Diet, Paleolithic; Diet, Plant-Based; Diet, Protein-Restricted; Diet, Reducing; Diet, Sodium-Restricted; Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 69,912 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Diet Therapy” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 15,299 of them (21.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 22,488 records.
Reviews account for 12,426 records (17.8%) and meta-analyses for 1,167. Randomized controlled trials number 6,950 (9.9%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 22,488 |
| 2000-2009 | 11,621 |
| 2010-2019 | 20,504 |
| 2020 onward | 15,299 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 12,426 | 17.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,167 | 1.7% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 6,950 | 9.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Diet Therapy"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietary restriction is evolutionarily conserved on the phenotypic and mechanistic level | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 42463971 · DOI · PMC13554105 |
| Ketogenic diet as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases: from mechanisms to translational challenges | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42186042 · DOI · PMC13200306 |
| Mediterranean Diet and Physical Exercise for Cardiometabolic Health: A Narrative Review | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42588171 · DOI · PMC13468643 |
Dietary restriction is evolutionarily conserved on the phenotypic and mechanistic level [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The anti-ageing response to Dietary Restriction (DR) is thought to be mechanistically ancient, reasoning from its phenotypic conservation.
- Closing excerpt
- The comparative approaches we used here hold promise to identify shared mechanisms relevant to our own species.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (175 words)
The anti-ageing response to Dietary Restriction (DR) is thought to be mechanistically ancient, reasoning from its phenotypic conservation. However, DR is implemented differently across species and evidence for conserved mechanisms remains limited. Here, we tested longevity and fecundity in response to DR across eight different Drosophila species, finding that DR is, on balance, phenotypically conserved. Next, we used comparative transcriptomics and found strongly concordant responses to DR. We studied the evolutionary history of the top concordantly differentially expressed orthologous genes and identified that many are "young" genes, suggesting that the genetic basis of DR is not widely conserved. To validate this hypothesis, we tested the longevity effects of the 15 most conserved genes that change in transcription in response to DR. Surprisingly, we found that 12 out of 15 genes tested had a lifespan phenotype, with 9 extending lifespan. Our findings suggest that while large parts of the DR response are taxonomically specific, some core mechanisms appear conserved. The comparative approaches we used here hold promise to identify shared mechanisms relevant to our own species.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42463971 · DOI · PMC13554105
Ketogenic diet as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases: from mechanisms to translational challenges [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disorders because of its multifaceted impacts on key pathophysiological mechanisms.
- Closing excerpt
- This review underscores the potential of KD for treating neurodegeneration on the basis of current scientific evidence while highlighting the need for further research to optimize its application and address existing gaps.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (146 words)
The ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disorders because of its multifaceted impacts on key pathophysiological mechanisms. This review explores the molecular pathways through which KD may protect against neurodegeneration, including the use of ketone bodies as alternative energy substrates, reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation, modulation of autophagy and protein aggregation, and impact on the gut microbiome. The potential benefits of KD are explored across neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis, based on both preclinical and clinical evidence that supports its feasibility. However, challenges in long-term safety, patient adherence, and clinical practicality limit its widespread adoption. This review underscores the potential of KD for treating neurodegeneration on the basis of current scientific evidence while highlighting the need for further research to optimize its application and address existing gaps.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42186042 · DOI · PMC13200306
Mediterranean Diet and Physical Exercise for Cardiometabolic Health: A Narrative Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
- Closing excerpt
- Further long-term, well-controlled studies are needed to clarify their independent and combined contributions across different populations.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (231 words)
BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The Mediterranean diet (MD) and regular physical activity are established components of cardiovascular prevention, but evidence regarding their combined cardiometabolic effects remains heterogeneous.ObjectiveThis narrative review critically summarizes current evidence on the joint role of the MD and physical exercise in cardiometabolic health.MethodsA structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using terms related to the MD, CVD, cardiometabolic health, physical activity, and exercise. Experimental and observational human studies published between 2016 and 2026 were considered, together with relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Particular attention was given to 10 key human studies, including randomized intervention studies and observational cohorts. Owing to substantial heterogeneity in populations, interventions, comparators, follow-up periods, and outcomes, the evidence was synthesized narratively.ResultsThe key studies generally reported favorable changes in body weight and composition, blood pressure, glucose regulation, and lipid profiles. One observational study also found a lower likelihood of cardiovascular medication initiation among participants with sustained adherence to both lifestyle components. However, most outcomes were surrogate cardiometabolic markers, and the independent effects of diet and exercise were often difficult to isolate.ConclusionsThe MD and regular physical activity appear to be complementary components of cardiometabolic prevention. However, current evidence does not establish a consistent additive or synergistic effect. Further long-term, well-controlled studies are needed to clarify their independent and combined contributions across different populations.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42588171 · DOI · PMC13468643
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet and Blood Pressure Reduction in Adults with and without Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials [4]
- Research article Dietary fibre and whole grains in diabetes management: Systematic review and meta-analyses [5]
- Research article Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data [6]
- Research article Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality: Results From 2 Prospective Cohort Studies of US Men and Women and a Meta-Analysis of 26 Cohort Studies [7]
- Research article Diet Quality as Assessed by the Healthy Eating Index, Alternate Healthy Eating Index, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Score, and Health Outcomes: A Second Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies [8]
- Research article Comparison of dietary macronutrient patterns of 14 popular named dietary programmes for weight and cardiovascular risk factor reduction in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials [9]
References
- Gautrey SL, Dunning LT, Gossmann TI, Simons MJP. Dietary restriction is evolutionarily conserved on the phenotypic and mechanistic level. . 2026. PMID 42463971 · DOI · PMC13554105
- Salgueiro AM, Ferreira-Marques M, Ribeiro RFN, Lopes SM, Pereira D, Costa DG, et al.. Ketogenic diet as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases: from mechanisms to translational challenges. . 2026. PMID 42186042 · DOI · PMC13200306
- Binti MAN, Fekete M, Varga JT. Mediterranean Diet and Physical Exercise for Cardiometabolic Health: A Narrative Review. . 2026. PMID 42588171 · DOI · PMC13468643
- Filippou CD, Tsioufis CP, Thomopoulos CG, Mihas CC, Dimitriadis KS, Sotiropoulou LI, et al.. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet and Blood Pressure Reduction in Adults with and without Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Adv Nutr. 2020. PMID 32330233 · DOI · PMC7490167
- Reynolds AN, Akerman AP, Mann J. Dietary fibre and whole grains in diabetes management: Systematic review and meta-analyses. PLoS Med. 2020. PMID 32142510 · DOI · PMC7059907
- Goldenberg JZ, Day A, Brinkworth GD, Sato J, Yamada S, Jönsson T, et al.. Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data. BMJ. 2021. PMID 33441384 · DOI · PMC7804828
- Wang DD, Li Y, Bhupathiraju SN, Rosner BA, Sun Q, Giovannucci EL, et al.. Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mortality: Results From 2 Prospective Cohort Studies of US Men and Women and a Meta-Analysis of 26 Cohort Studies. Circulation. 2021. PMID 33641343 · DOI · PMC8084888
- Morze J, Danielewicz A, Hoffmann G, Schwingshackl L. Diet Quality as Assessed by the Healthy Eating Index, Alternate Healthy Eating Index, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Score, and Health Outcomes: A Second Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2020. PMID 33067162 · DOI
- Ge L, Sadeghirad B, Ball GDC, da Costa BR, Hitchcock CL, Svendrovski A, et al.. Comparison of dietary macronutrient patterns of 14 popular named dietary programmes for weight and cardiovascular risk factor reduction in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ. 2020. PMID 32238384 · DOI · PMC7190064
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.