People who eat a Mediterranean diet, which is low in saturated fat and high in fiber and monounsaturated fat, are more likely to live longer, and less likely to die from heart disease, stroke or cancer, or to develop cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Results of a review of 12 studies comprising more than 1.5 million people by Francesco Sofi and colleagues at the University of Florence revealed that people who ate a strict Mediterranean diet had a significantly reduced risk of mortality (9%). Furthermore, they were 9% less likely to die from heart attack or stroke, 6% less likely to develop or die from cancer, and 13% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers conclude: “Greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a significant improvement in health status. These results seem to be clinically relevant in terms of public health, particularly for reducing the risk of premature death in the general population, and are strictly concordant with current guidelines and recommendations from all the major scientific associations that strongly encourage a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern for primary and secondary prevention of major chronic diseases. that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a significant improvement in health status.” They say that the results seem to be “clinically relevant for public health, in particular for encouraging a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern for primary prevention of major chronic diseases.”
Sofi F, Cesari F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, A Casini. Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis. BMJ 2008;337:a1344
