Mediterranean Diet Tied to 23% Lower Risk of Death in Landmark 25-Year Study TOPICS:

 

Mediterranean Diet Tied to 23% Lower Risk of Death in Landmark 25-Year Study

TOPICS:TOPICS:Brigham And Women's HospitalDietMortalityPublic Health

By BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL JUNE 2, 2024

Researchers found that the Mediterranean diet reduces all-cause mortality by 23% among U.S. women, likely due to beneficial changes in metabolism and inflammation markers, emphasizing its potential for improving public health.

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Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have explored and analyzed the fundamental reasons that might account for the Mediterranean diet’s 23 percent decrease in overall mortality risk among American women.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have explored and evaluated the potential underlying mechanisms that could account for the 23 percent decrease in all-cause mortality risk among American women following the Mediterranean diet.

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The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been reported in multiple studies, but there is limited long-term data on its effects on U.S. women and little understanding of why the diet may reduce the risk of death.

In a new study that followed more than 25,000 initially healthy U.S. women for up to 25 years, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, found that participants who had greater Mediterranean diet intake had up to 23% lower risk of all-cause mortality, with benefits for both cancer mortality and cardiovascular mortality.( )

The researchers found evidence of biological changes that may help explain why: they detected changes in biomarkers of metabolism, inflammation, insulin resistance, and more. Results are published in JAMA.

“For women who want to live longer, our study says watch your diet! The good news is that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern could result in about one quarter reduction in risk of death over more than 25 years with benefit for both cancer and cardiovascular mortality, the top causes of death in women (and men) in the US and globally,” said senior author Samia Mora, MD, a cardiologist and the director of the Center for Lipid Metabolomics at the Brigham. (read more........)