Mediterranean Diet Reduces Mortality Risk by 30% in Cancer Survivors

On July 2, 2024, JACC: CardioOncology published research showing that strict adherence to the Mediterranean diet among cancer survivors reduced all-cause mortality risk by 32% compared with low adherence. This included a reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease of up to 60%.

Some Terms Used in the Article and Their Definitions:

• Mediterranean Diet: A healthy eating pattern typical of the Mediterranean region, including olive oil, fruit, vegetables, fish, whole grains and small amounts of red wine.
• Cancer Survivors: People who have been diagnosed with cancer and received treatment.
• Cardiovascular: Relating to any disease or condition affecting the heart and blood vessels.
• JACC: CardioOncology: A scientific journal publishing research on cardiovascular disease and oncology.
• UMBERTO Project: An Italian research project examining eating habits and their effects on health.
• Moli-sani Study: A large, long-term health and nutrition study conducted in Italy.
• Bioactive Compounds: Natural chemicals, generally obtained from food, that have biological effects in the body.

The Mediterranean Diet in Cancer Prevention and After Diagnosis

The Mediterranean diet is known to offer health benefits even after cancer diagnosis. Targeted medicines and immunotherapies are expected to increase the number of cancer survivors in the coming years. Understanding how much a healthy diet may extend survival is therefore vital and is a question many patients ask.

Marialaura Bonaccio, lead author of the Italian study, said, "The beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet in preventing certain cancers is well established in the literature. However, little is known about its potential benefits for people who have already been diagnosed with cancer."

Study Details

As part of the UMBERTO Project, researchers examined dietary habits and outcomes in 800 adults diagnosed with cancer who participated in the Moli-sani study between 2005 and 2010. They aimed to evaluate the Mediterranean diet's role in mortality rates.

After 13 years of follow-up, those adhering closely to the Mediterranean diet had a 32% lower risk of all-cause death and a 60% lower risk of cardiovascular death than those not following the diet.

Shared Causes of Chronic Diseases and Prevention Strategies

The study supports the interesting hypothesis that different chronic diseases progress through the same molecular processes, including tumors and cardiovascular disease. Known in the scientific literature as "common ground," this concept suggests that these two disease groups have similar origins.

In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet includes foods such as fruit, vegetables and olive oil that naturally contain many essential and beneficial bioactive compounds. Diets rich in these compounds have the potential to reduce deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease. The UMBERTO Project therefore offers valuable information for better understanding this eating pattern's benefits, particularly for people who have survived serious illnesses such as cancer and have major questions about how to continue living healthily and what to eat.