Mediterranean diet may protect the hearts of cancer survivors
Following a Mediterranean diet can help cancer survivors significantly lower their long-term risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.[1]
The Mediterranean diet, named after the traditional eating habits of Greece and Italy, is based on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and olive oil. Although it primarily focuses on plant-based options, it does permit fish, seafood, poultry and dairy products to be eaten occasionally.
For this analysis, researchers explored data from more than 800 adults 35 years old or older with a cancer diagnosis. All participants lived in Italy. The mean age was 63 years old, and 59% of participants were women. Their eating habits were evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire.
The group was then followed from March 2005 to December 2020. A total of 248 deaths were recorded during that time, including 59 associated with cardiovascular symptoms and another 140 associated with cancer. Looking closer at those cardiovascular deaths, 25.4% were from ischemic heart disease and 23.7% were from cerebrovascular disease.
Overall, closely adhering to a Mediterranean diet was independently associated with a “substantial reduction” in all-cause mortality. In fact, the more closely participants followed a Mediterranean diet, the more they saw their odds of long-term survival improve.
The improved long-term survival appeared to primarily due to the Mediterranean’s cardiovascular benefits, researchers noted.
“The latter observation is relevant because patients with cancer are considered a high CVD risk population because of shared modifiable risk factors and, potentially, molecular mechanisms of disease, as postulated by the ‘common soil’ hypothesis,” wrote first author Marialaura Bonaccio, PhD, with the department of epidemiology and prevention at IRCCS Neuromed, and colleagues. “The Mediterranean diet is abundant in foods that are natural sources of polyphenols, which are bioactive compounds with well-established anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activities that may be relevant not only to cancer onset and progression, but also and possibly even more to cardiovascular mortality prevention.”
Following a Mediterranean diet was not separately associated with a reduction in cancer mortality, which Bonaccio et al. said “could be due to the different types of cancers included and the multifaceted nature of cancer progression and recurrence, which is strongly influenced by non-nutritional factors”
Reviewing these findings, the team did note that their research has certain limitations. This was an observational study, for example, meaning that “causality cannot be inferred.” In addition, participants with the most active types of cancer would have likely already died before the study began, creating “a risk for survival bias.”
Even with such limitations in mind, the group ultimately concluded that “maintaining or adopting a traditional Mediterranean diet” may be a good idea for anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis.
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.