The Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet for Long-Term Cancer Survivors

The research conducted by Marialaura Bonaccio, PhD, and colleagues at the IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo in Pozzilli, Italy, has shed light on the potential benefits of a Mediterranean diet for long-term cancer survivors. The study, published in JACC: CardioOncology, followed participants for almost 13 years and found that those with high adherence to the diet had a 32% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with poor adherence.

One of the key findings of the study was that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality. Participants who followed the diet, characterized by a focus on vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil, and nuts, had a decreased risk of mortality compared to those with poor adherence. This highlights the potential benefits of maintaining or adopting a Mediterranean diet after a cancer diagnosis.

In addition to reducing all-cause mortality, a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was also linked to lower cardiovascular mortality. Given that cancer survivors are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, this finding is particularly significant. The diet’s abundance of natural sources of polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties, may play a role in preventing cardiovascular mortality among cancer survivors.

While the study did not find a significant association between high adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lower cancer mortality, the authors acknowledge that this could be due to the multifaceted nature of cancer progression and recurrence. The lack of a clear link to cancer mortality does not diminish the overall benefits of the diet for long-term cancer survivors.

It is essential to consider the limitations of the study conducted by Bonaccio and colleagues. As an observational study, causality cannot be inferred from the results. Additionally, the presence of “survival bias” due to the participants’ average survival of 9 years at baseline may have impacted the findings, as those with more aggressive cancers may have already passed away.

The research on the benefits of a Mediterranean diet for long-term cancer survivors offers valuable insights into the potential impact of dietary choices on survivorship. The study’s findings underscore the importance of maintaining or adopting a Mediterranean diet post-diagnosis, not just for cancer outcomes but also for cardiovascular health. Further research is needed to develop tailored dietary recommendations for cancer survivors based on these promising results.