Mixed
Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern, as measured by validated indexes, is associated with reduced total mortality, coronary heart disease mortality, and cancer mortality, as well as increased life expectancy in observational studies.
Adopting a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern is associated with significant reductions in mortality and chronic disease risk. You do not need to follow a rigid prescription; adherence indexes show that incremental improvements in key components (like increasing vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and olive oil while reducing meat and sweets) yield measurable health benefits. Focus on the overall pattern of eating rather than perfection.
It has been suggested that variants of this diet may improve the prognosis in coronary heart disease patients, that some aspects of the Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) may protect against the development of diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, embolisms and osteoporosis. Additionally, a beneficial effect is suggested with some cancers, such as breast cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.
Why this rating
The paper reviews observational epidemiological studies and cohort studies, which establish association but not causation; no randomized controlled trials are the primary focus of this review.
Source
The use of indexes evaluating the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in epidemiological studies: a review
Anna Bach-Faig et al. · Public Health Nutrition · 2006
DOI 10.1079/phn2005936
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