Mediterranean Diet & Mortality Risk

Just published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings is an analysis of the link between the “Mediterranean lifestyle” (comprised not only of dietary food and habits but also such things as napping, physical activity, and time socializing with friends) and all-cause mortality, as well as cardiovascular and cancer-specific mortality. This observational study was conducted among over 110,000 participants in the UK Biobank cohort, who were aged 40 to 75 at the onset of the study, and followed for a mean of just under 10 years.

Comparing study participants in the lowest quartile of adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle, there was a dose-dependent reduction in all-cause mortality in each quartile of higher adherence. For example, the 2^nd quartile was associated with an 11% reduction in all-cause mortality, and a 29% reduction in those most adherent. A similar dose-dependent effect on cancer-specific mortality was observed; there was a 10% reduction in the 2^nd quartile, and a 28% reduction in the highest quartile of adherence. 

Each individual component of the Mediterranean lifestyle, including the intake of specific foods (e.g., fruits and whole grains), dietary habits (e.g., limiting sugar and salt), and non-dietary components (e.g., physical activity, naps, time with friends, etc.) was independently associated with reduced all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. The 3^rd component (physical activity, social interactions, etc.) was most strongly associated with a reduction in risk, and also associated with a lower cardiovascular mortality. It’s also worth noting the UK Biobank cohort is not a Mediterranean region, firmly establishing that the benefits of a Mediterranean lifestyle extend to non-Mediterranean populations.