One of the few studies to examine the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet in a non-Mediterranean context and to assess the health benefits of an overall Mediterranean lifestyle
For immediate release: August 16, 2023
Boston, MA—People who adhere to a Mediterranean lifestyle, which includes a diet rich in Fruits and vegetablesAnd whole grains; Healthy eating habits like limiting added salt And sugars; and habits that promote restphysical activity and socializing – have a lower risk from all causes and cancer mortality, according to a new study led by La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. People who adhere to a lifestyle focused on rest, exerciseand socializing with friends had a lower risk of heart disease mortality.
The study was published Wednesday, August 16, in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
While numerous studies have established the health benefits of diet And way of life, little research has been conducted on the diet outside of its region of origin. “This study suggests that it is possible for non-Mediterranean populations to adopt the Mediterranean diet using locally available products and to adopt the overall Mediterranean lifestyle within their own cultural context,” said the lead author. Mercedes Sotos Prieto, Ramon y Cajal researcher at the Autonomous University of Madrid and adjunct assistant professor of environmental health at the Harvard Chan School. “We are seeing the transferability of the lifestyle and its positive effects on health.”
Researchers analyzed the habits of 110,799 members of the UK Biobank cohort, a population-based study conducted in England, Wales and Scotland, using the Mediterranean Lifestyle Index (MEDLIFE), derived from a questionnaire on lifestyle and dietary assessments. Participants, aged 40 to 75, provided information on their lifestyle according to the three categories measured by the index: “Mediterranean food consumption” (consumption of foods part of the Mediterranean diet such as fruits and grains complete); “Mediterranean eating habits” (adherence to habits and practices around meals, including limiting salt and drinking healthy drinks); and “physical activity, rest, social habits, and togetherness” (adhering to lifestyle habits, including taking regular naps, exercising, and spending time with friends). Each item in the three categories was then scored, with higher total scores indicating greater adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle.
The researchers followed up nine years later to examine the participants’ health outcomes. Among the study population, 4,247 died of all causes; 2,401 from cancer; and 731 from cardiovascular diseases. Analyzing these results alongside MEDLIFE scores, researchers observed an inverse association between adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle and mortality risk. Participants with higher MEDLIFE scores were found to have a 29% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 28% lower risk of cancer mortality than those with lower MEDLIFE scores. Adherence to each MEDLIFE category independently was associated with lower risk of all-cause and cancer mortality. The category “physical activity, rest, social habits and conviviality” was most strongly associated with these reduced risks, and was further associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
Other Harvard Chan co-authors included Stefanos Kales.
Funding for the study came from the Carlos III Health Institute; the Secretary of R+D+I; the European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund; the National Drugs Plan; Soria Melguizo Foundation; Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Autonomous University of Madrid; Cancer Research UK Population Research Fellowship; and World Cancer Research Fund.
“Association of a Mediterranean lifestyle with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a prospective UK biobank study”, Javier Maroto Rodriguez, Mario Delgado-Velandia, Rosario Ortolá, Aurora Perez-Cornago, Stefanos N. Kales, Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo, Mercedes Sotos Prieto, Proceedings of the Mayo Clinic, August 16, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.05.031
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Image: iStock/Ridofranz
For more information:
Maya Brownstein
mbrownstein@hsph.harvard.edu
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Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to train new generations of global health leaders and produce powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere. As a community of leading scientists, educators, and students, we work together to translate innovative ideas from the lab into people’s lives, not only by achieving scientific breakthroughs, but also by working to change behaviors individuals, public policies and health care practices. Each year, more than 400 Harvard Chan School faculty members teach more than 1,000 full-time students from around the world and train thousands more through online and executive education courses. Founded in 1913 as the Harvard-MIT School of Health Officers, the school is recognized as the oldest public health professional training program in the United States.
