The study, part of the UMBERTO Project, is a collaboration between the Joint Research Platform of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation and the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention at the I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed of Pozzilli, alongside the LUM “Giuseppe Degennaro” University of Casamassima. It highlights the significant health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet for those already diagnosed with cancer. According to the research, individuals with high adherence to this diet before their study enrolment demonstrated a notably longer lifespan and a decreased risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to those with lower adherence.
Published in JACC CardioOncology, the study surveyed 800 male and female adults diagnosed with cancer before joining the Moli-sani Study from 2005 to 2010. These participants were monitored for over 13 years, providing comprehensive data on their dietary habits in the year leading up to their enrolment.
Marialaura Bonaccio, the study’s first author and co-principal investigator, noted that while the Mediterranean Diet’s role in preventing certain cancers is well-documented, its benefits for those already diagnosed with cancer are less understood. The growing number of cancer survivors, expected to rise with advances in targeted therapies, underscores the importance of dietary factors in extending survival among this group.
The research findings reveal that cancer survivors who followed the Mediterranean diet closely had a 32% lower overall mortality risk compared to those who did not adhere as strictly. This effect was even more pronounced in cardiovascular mortality, which saw a 60% reduction.
Maria Benedetta Donati, another principal investigator, suggests that chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease might share underlying molecular mechanisms. This concept, known in the scientific community as ‘common soil’, proposes a unified origin for these diverse health challenges.
Chiara Tonelli, President of the Scientific Committee at the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, explains that the Mediterranean Diet consists mainly of antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and olive oil. These components are believed to confer the observed benefits, not only in reducing cancer mortality but also in combating cardiovascular diseases. The findings from the UMBERTO Project aim to deepen understanding of these mechanisms, potentially benefiting broader population groups, including those most vulnerable, like cancer survivors.
More information: Marialaura Bonaccio et al, Mediterranean Diet Is Associated With Lower All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Among Long-Term Cancer Survivors, JACC CardioOncology. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2024.05.012
Journal information: JACC CardioOncology Provided by Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed IRCCS
