Individuals who follow a Mediterranean lifestyle, characterized by a diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, eating habits that minimize the intake of added salts and sugars, and practices that encourage sufficient rest, regular physical activity, and social interactions, are found to have a significantly decreased risk of dying from any cause and from cancer. This conclusion comes from a new study conducted by La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in collaboration with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The research further highlights that adherence to this lifestyle’s focus on adequate rest, physical exercise, and socializing lowers the risk of dying from heart disease.
The findings of this study are scheduled for publication in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings on Wednesday, August 16.
While numerous studies have underscored the health benefits of adopting a Mediterranean diet and overall lifestyle, there needs to be more research exploring the application of this diet beyond its traditional Mediterranean borders. The study presents evidence that adopting the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle is feasible for people outside the Mediterranean region using locally sourced products and adapting the lifestyle to fit their cultural contexts, according to Mercedes Sotos Prieto, the study’s lead author. She holds positions as a Ramon y Cajal research fellow at La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and an adjunct assistant professor of environmental health at Harvard Chan School. The study underscores the adaptability of the Mediterranean lifestyle and its positive impact on health.
This research scrutinized the lifestyle habits of 110,799 UK Biobank participants, including a broad cross-section of individuals from England, Wales, and Scotland. The study employed the Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index, based on responses to a lifestyle questionnaire and dietary assessments, to evaluate participants’ adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle. The participants, aged between 40 and 75, reported on their lifestyle across three main categories assessed by the index: “Mediterranean food consumption”, focusing on the intake of Mediterranean diet staples like fruits and whole grains; “Mediterranean dietary habits”, emphasizing mealtime practices, such as limiting salt intake and choosing healthy beverages; and “physical activity, rest, and social habits and conviviality” highlighting lifestyle practices like taking regular naps, exercising, and socializing. Scores were assigned within these categories, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle.
Upon a nine-year follow-up to assess the participants’ health outcomes, the study found that out of the cohort, 4,247 individuals had passed away from all causes, 2,401 from cancer, and 731 from cardiovascular diseases. Analyzing these health outcomes of the MEDLIFE scores revealed an inverse relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle and mortality risk. Participants with higher MEDLIFE scores had a 29% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 28% reduced risk of dying from cancer compared to those with lower scores. Adherence to each MEDLIFE category was independently linked to a lower risk of all-cause and cancer mortality. Notably, the category “physical activity, rest, and social habits and conviviality” showed the strongest association with these reduced risks and was also linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
More information: Javier Maroto-Rodriguez et al, Association of a Mediterranean Lifestyle With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Study from the UK Biobank, Mayo Clinic Proceedings. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.05.031
Journal information: Mayo Clinic Proceedings Provided by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
