Stefano Cacciatore, then completing his specialty training in Geriatric Medicine at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome, received the Nutrients Best Paper Award in July 2025. The annual recognition is presented by the international journal to publications distinguished by their scientific quality, significance, and impact.
The award recognized the study Low Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Probable Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from the Longevity Check-Up (Lookup) 7+ Project, which investigated the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and muscle function in later life.
The analysis included almost 3,000 older adults recruited across several Italian regions. Lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of probable sarcopenia, defined by reduced muscle strength.
The findings add to growing evidence that the Mediterranean diet may contribute not only to the prevention of cardiovascular, oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases, but also to the preservation of muscle health. Loss of muscle strength is a major component of age-related functional decline and an important step in the pathway toward disability and loss of independence.
“The Mediterranean diet, already recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and recently addressed in specific national guidelines by the Italian National Institute of Health, represents a powerful, sustainable, and accessible tool for health promotion and prevention. Evidence suggests that this dietary pattern may influence biological mechanisms that are central to aging, including immunosenescence and inflammaging, which are increasingly recognized as important determinants of age-related disease. More broadly, integrating the Mediterranean diet within a wider framework of healthy behaviors and informed choices may represent an effective strategy for extending the years of life spent in good health.”
Stefano Cacciatore
The study was conducted within the Longevity Check-up initiative, a population-based project combining health promotion with the collection of information on lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors, and physical performance.
Emanuele Marzetti, Professor of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and one of Dr. Cacciatore’s research mentors, welcomed the recognition.
“As Stefano’s mentor, I was extremely pleased to learn of this prestigious recognition. The award is a well-deserved acknowledgement of his talent, dedication, and the quality of his scientific work. It is a source of great pride to see that, over the past two years, two of our young researchers, Stefano Cacciatore and Helio José Coelho-Júnior, have received important research awards. This is tangible evidence of the quality and value of our small, but extraordinarily active and talented, scientific community.”
Emanuele Marzetti
The award further highlighted the growing interest in nutritional and lifestyle approaches aimed at preserving physical function and promoting healthy aging.