Remembering Prof. Flaminio Fidanza

Abstract

One year ago, on March 16th 2012, Prof. Flaminio Fidanza, emeritus professor of Food Science at the University of Perugia, passed away at the age of 92. Until 1964, he was an eminent professor and researcher at the University of Naples Medical School, where several scholars under his brilliant guidance devoted their research studies to human nutrition and metabolism pathophysiology. He was then appointed Director of the Italian Institute of Food Science and, later, Chairman of the Post-Graduate School of Food Science at the University of Perugia. In his long academic career he was also President of the Italian Society of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition, President of the European Study Group of Nutritionists, Honorary President of the National Institute for the Mediterranean Diet, Permanent Member of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences of the WHO Food and Agricultural Organization and member of the Czech Medical Academy. His interest in nutrition and metabolism started back in 1950, when he met and initiated his long lasting collaboration with Prof. Ancel Keys, the great American scientist who pioneered the seminal researches around the Mediterranean Diet, establishing its role for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases; together they conceived the Seven Countries Study – a large prospective epidemiological survey on coronary heart diseases in Italy and another six countries, for which Prof. Fidanza was the principal investigator. During his long and fervent scientific activity, Prof. Fidanza was himself a pioneer in investigating the food habits of the different Italian regions and their populations and in satisfying the demand for epidemiological data on coronary heart disease in Italy and in other countries. But his scientific interests were manifold, spreading from the study of the chemical composition of the human body, to the setting up of rapid methods to assess the nutritional status, the protein quality, the content of sugar and vitamins, as well as contaminants and anti-nutritional factors in the foods most commonly consumed in Italy. He also pursued biochemical studies concerning the antisteatosis pancreatic factor, the transmethylation processes and the relationship between diet and cholesterol, and between coagulation factors, nutrition and physical activity. His extensive research work is documented in the more than 300 scientific articles bearing his name and those of his collaborators. Among the awards conferred to him there are the Pavesi Prize for his research studies on diet and coronary heart disease in 1964, the Gold Medal for Scientific, Artistic and Cultural merits in 1986, the Grande Covian Award of the Foundation for the Promotion of the Mediterranean diet in 1998. Flaminio Fidanza was a Scientist of high academic standing, a Man unable to make compromises and a model of honesty, a sedulous researcher and a valuable Professor for the many scholars who loved him and sometimes even feared his blunt benevolence. He will not be forgotten by any of his friends or collaborators.