Beyond Antioxidant Scavenging: Mediterranean Diet, Redox–Metabolic Integration, and Exercise Adaptation

Exercise-induced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are not merely damaging by-products but essential components of signaling networks that support training adaptation. This narrative review examines how the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) may modulate exercise-responsive redox and metabolic signaling beyond direct antioxidant scavenging. Evidence from mechanistic, preclinical, observational, and controlled human studies was evaluated, with attention to dietary patterns, whole foods, standardized extracts, and isolated supplements. Biological effects depend on food composition, matrix, dose, timing, intestinal absorption, host metabolism, microbial biotransformation, and the resulting circulating metabolite profile. Polyphenol conjugates, microbiota-derived phenolic metabolites, short-chain fatty acids, and lipid-derived mediators may interact with redox, energy-dependent, inflammatory, and vascular pathways engaged by exercise. Human evidence remains heterogeneous and suggests possible benefits for selected endurance-related, metabolic, vascular, and recovery-related outcomes, although evidence for accelerated recovery remains limited, rather than supporting a consistent ergogenic effect. Microbiota-derived metabolites are plausible mediators, although causal evidence remains limited. High-dose antioxidant supplementation may attenuate selected redox-sensitive responses and should not be considered equivalent to antioxidant-rich foods. Overall, an exposure-aware, food-first framework may better explain diet–exercise interactions. Future studies should integrate dietary characterization, circulating metabolite assessment, standardized training loads, and temporally resolved molecular and functional outcomes to advance precision redox nutrition in physically active populations and athletes across training contexts.