Epic study emphasizes the impact of the Mediterranean diet on the risk of obesity-linked cancer risk

Higher compliance with the Mediterranean diet is associated with a modest reduction in the risk of obesity -related cancers, according to research conducted by the European Prospective Investigation to Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) research. The study found a 6% lower risk of cancer in participants with a high Mediterranean diet that therapy compliance, independent of adiposity measures.

In the study, “compliance with the Mediterranean diet and the risk of obesity-linked cancer in Epic,” published in Jama Network OpenResults aimed at the incidence of obesity-related cancers classified under the International Agency 2015 for research into cancer criteria.

Between 1992 and 2000, Epic wrote 521,324 participants between the ages of 35 and 70 in 23 centers in 10 European countries. This prospective cohort analysis included 450.111 participants after exclusions for diagnoses of baseline cancer, missing data, extreme energy intake relationships and Greek cohort data.

Researchers assessed the intake of food by validated land-specific questionnaires and calculated compliance with the help of a 9-point Mediterranean dietary (Meddiet), categorizing the participants in low (0–3), Medium (4–6) or High (7–9) therapy guards groups.

Multivariabele COX -proportionele gevarenregressiemodellen aangepast voor potentiële confounders, waaronder roken, lichamelijke activiteit, onderwijs, alcoholinname, lengte, totale energie -inname en diabetes type 2. Bemiddelingsanalyses onderzochten de rol van Body Mass Index (BMI) en taille-tot-heupverhouding (WHR).

During a median follow-up of 14.9 years, 4.9% of the participants developed obesity-related cancers. High Meddiet -therapy Legal lease was associated with a lower risk of these cancers (Hazard Ratio [HR]0.94) compared to low therapy compliance. Medium therapy compliance showed a similar but statistically inexpensive association. No significant mediation was observed by BMI or WHR.

Place-specific analyzes revealed reverse associations between high Mediterranean diet therapy lust and colorectale (HR, 0.92), hepatocellular (HR, 0.52) and kidney (HR, 0.67) Cancer risks. Medium therapy compliance was associated with a lower risk of esophageal cancer (HR, 0.66). There were no significant associations for hormone -related cancers in women.

The results remained consistent in sensitivity analyzes, including models that were exclusively for the first two years of follow-up and variations of the Mediterranean die-set score without the alcohol component. Stratified analyzes indicated stronger inverted associations among smokers and men.

Researchers concluded that higher therapy compliance with the Meddiet can significantly reduce the risks of obesity-related cancer due to mechanisms that are not related to adipositas. Further research is necessary to investigate underlying biological paths, including inflammation, insulin sensitivity and intestinal microbiota.

Although it is not part of this epic examination, it is likely that the lower cancer risk associated with higher Meddiet therapy lease could partially reflect a reduced consumption of strong or ultra-processed food instead of any positive health effects of the Meddiet itself. Persons with a high Meddiet therapy compliance use more fruit, vegetables, full grains and fish. Strongly processed foods are not part of the Meddiet index (ie more processed foods eating the therapy compliance of Meddiet would lower).

Many recent studies, including different Van Epic, have consistently reported a positive relationship between higher processed food consumption and an increased risk of different cancers. Since the compliance is reversed reversed with the risk of cancer, although processed food consumption shows the opposite trend, this could suggest that Meddiet -benefits arise partly from the absence of this type of processed food products.

Another remark for future research is the category of obesity-related cancers. The current study notes that these reverse and adverse associations will maintain after correction for adipositas measurements (Body Mass Index, waist-hip ratio). Given the persistent associations after adjusting adipositas and emerging data on ultra-processed foods, future research could investigate whether some obesity-related cancers are also processed food-related cancers.

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