Adhering to a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers with a smaller but significantly lower risk, according to a major study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.
The study, which tracked more than 450,000 participants in 10 European countries over the past 15 years, found that compared with those with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, was associated with obesity compared with those with lower adherence. The risk of cancer is 6% lower.
“These findings suggest that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is moderately reduced in the risk of obesity-related cancers, independent of obesity measures,” wrote researchers at Inmaculada Aguilera aguilera-Buenosvinos. Spain.
The study draws on data from the European Prospective Survey of Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), which included participants aged 35 to 70 from 1992 to 2000 in 23 European centers. The median tracking of participants was 14. During this period, about 5% of people developed one of 13 types of cancers associated with overweight.
These obesity-related cancers include postmenopausal breast cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer, among others. The prevalence of overweight is rising globally, and despite a large number of public health efforts, about 39% of the world’s population is classified as overweight or obese.
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil, and has been associated with various health benefits. In this study, compliance was measured using a 9-point scale, which evaluated consumption patterns in various food groups. Participants were classified as low (0-3 points), moderate (4-6 points) or high (7-9 points).
Although overall risk reduction is modest, researchers observed greater protection against specific cancer types. High Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (8% lower risk), hepatocellular carcinoma (48% lower risk) and renal cancer (33% lower risk). Moderate diet adherence to the risk of esophageal cancer was reduced by 34%.
Surprisingly, the study found that the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and cancer risk was not mediated by body mass index (BMI) or waist ratio, suggesting that the potential protective effect of this diet is operated through mechanisms beyond weight control. .
“Our mediation analysis did not show any significant results when considering the high and low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the risk of obesity-related cancer mediated by BMI or waist circumference ratios.”
The protection association is particularly evident among smokers. The current risk of highly adherent smokers with Mediterranean diet is 14% lower than that of smokers with low adherence, suggesting that this diet may partially offset the risk of tobacco use in some cancer risks.
A senior author of the study stressed that the study demonstrated the importance of dietary patterns, not the importance of personal nutrition in cancer prevention.
“The potential benefits of Mediterranean diet for cancer prevention may come from the interactions and synergies between its various components, which together enhance health benefits rather than the benefits observed in a single food,” the paper said.
The advantages of the study include large samples, large number of cancer cases and extended follow-up periods. Unlike previous analysis, this study evaluated various cancer subtypes and obesity associations across a wide range of populations, with different levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
However, the researchers acknowledged limitations, including the possibility that diets were assessed only at baseline and the possibility that Mediterranean lifestyle patterns might not be fully captured by the scoring system used.
While the reduction in cancer risk appears to be small at the individual level, it may translate into a significant public health benefit of the population. These findings add to growing evidence that even adherence to healthy eating patterns may help prevent cancer.
As global obesity rates continue to rise, these results provide a relatively available dietary approach that can complement other cancer prevention strategies. The researchers called for further research to better understand the mechanisms by which higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet may reduce cancer risk, regardless of its impact on body weight.
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