The Mediterranean diet has long been touted for its numerous health benefits, including reducing the risk of obesity-related cancers. A recent study conducted by the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) has further solidified this claim, showing a 6% lower cancer risk among participants with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
The study, titled “Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Obesity-Linked Cancer Risk in EPIC,” was published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers analyzed data from 521,324 participants aged 35 to 70 years across 23 centers in 10 European countries. After excluding participants with baseline cancer diagnoses, missing data, extreme energy intake ratios, and Greek cohort data, the analysis focused on 450,111 participants.
Dietary intake was assessed using validated country-specific questionnaires, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was calculated using a 9-point Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDiet). Participants were categorized into low (0–3), medium (4–6), or high (7–9) adherence groups. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to adjust for potential confounders such as smoking, physical activity, education, alcohol intake, height, total energy intake, and type 2 diabetes.
Over a median follow-up period of 14.9 years, 4.9% of participants developed obesity-related cancers. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of these cancers (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94) compared to low adherence. Medium adherence showed a similar though statistically insignificant inverse association. Interestingly, there was no significant mediation by body mass index (BMI) or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) observed in the study.
Site-specific analyses revealed additional benefits of high Mediterranean diet adherence, including lower risks of colorectal (HR, 0.92), hepatocellular (HR, 0.52), and kidney (HR, 0.67) cancers.
These findings highlight the importance of following a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats for reducing the risk of obesity-related cancers. Incorporating these dietary principles into everyday meals can have a significant impact on overall health and well-being.
