Mixed
High adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of cancer mortality, all-cause mortality among cancer survivors, and incidence of colorectal, head and neck, respiratory, gastric, liver, and bladder cancers.
To lower your risk of several major cancers and cancer-related death, structure your diet around the Mediterranean pattern: prioritize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and olive oil. Limit red and processed meats, eggs, and dairy. If you drink alcohol, keep it moderate. This is not a short-term fix but a long-term dietary pattern.
The highest adherence to MedDiet was inversely associated with cancer mortality (RRcohort: 0.87, 95% CI 0.82, 0.92; N = 18 studies), all-cause mortality among cancer survivors (RRcohort: 0.75, 95% CI 0.66, 0.86; N = 8), breast (RRobservational: 0.94, 95% CI 0.90, 0.97; N = 23), colorectal (RRobservational: 0.83, 95% CI 0.76, 0.90; N = 17), head and neck (RRobservational: 0.56, 95% CI 0.44, 0.72; N = 9), respiratory (RRcohort: 0.84, 95% CI 0.76, 0.94; N = 5), gastric (RRobservational: 0.70, 95% CI 0.61, 0.80; N = 7), bladder (RRobservational: 0.87, 95% CI 0.76, 0.98; N = 4), and liver cancer (RRobservational: 0.64, 95% CI 0.54, 0.75; N = 4).
Why this rating
The paper reports moderate certainty for cancer mortality and colorectal cancer, but low/very low certainty for most other site-specific associations.
Source
An updated systematic review and meta-analysis on adherence to mediterranean diet and risk of cancer
Jakub Morze et al. · European Journal of Nutrition · 2020
DOI 10.1007/s00394-020-02346-6
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