Mediterranean Diet and Cancer Incidence
Author Information
Author(s): Benetou V, Trichopoulou A, Orfanos P, Naska A, Lagiou P, Boffetta P, Trichopoulos D
Primary Institution: University of Athens Medical School
Hypothesis
Is adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet associated with lower cancer incidence?
Conclusion
Higher adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet is linked to a significantly lower incidence of overall cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- A higher degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 12% reduction in cancer incidence.
- The association was stronger among women.
- Participants with higher Mediterranean diet scores tended to be younger and more educated.
Takeaway
Eating a Mediterranean diet, which includes lots of vegetables and olive oil, can help you get sick less often with cancer.
Methodology
The study used a validated food-frequency questionnaire to assess diet and followed participants for cancer incidence over a median of 7.9 years.
Potential Biases
There is a potential for residual confounding despite controlling for various factors.
Limitations
The study could not examine specific cancers due to sample size and follow-up duration limitations.
Participant Demographics
The cohort consisted of 10,582 men and 15,041 women from Greece.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Confidence Interval
0.80, 0.95
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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