Participants with the highest adherence to the eating pattern also tended to have healthier lifestyles.
So why report on yet another study about the Mediterranean diet?
Because when it comes to strengthening associations between two or more factors, the more evidence, the better.
Photo:alvarez/Getty Images
Lets take a closer look.
How Was This Study Conducted and What Did They Find?
Race and ethnicity of participants included Black, Asian, Hispanic, White and other races and ethnicities.
Participants were followed for 25 years.
Each participant completed a food-frequency questionnaire that included 131 questions.
They then received a Mediterranean diet score based on their answers regarding regular consumption of nine dietary components.
Additionally, participants completed health questionnaires six months apart for the first year and then annually.
They also provided blood samples.
Blood tests included HbA1c, lipids and inflammatory markers.
Medical records, death certificates and causes of death were tracked for 25 years.
Over that time, 3,879 deaths occurred, including 935 from heart disease and 1,531 from cancer.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
Metabolic processes that arent working properly can lead to disease onset and progression.
They also had overall healthier lifestyles.
- doi:10.1038/s41392-023-01399-3
National Library of Medicine.
National Library of Medicine.
MedlinePlus.Can you boost your metabolism?
