Study links Mediterranean per diem expenses to lower risk of obesity-related cancer
JAMA Network Open, the journal of the American Medical association , publishes an international research led by experts from the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
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14 | 04 | 2025
A recent study published in JAMA Network Openthe journal of the American Medicalassociation , has determined that greater adherence to the Mediterranean per diem expenses diet is associated with a 6% reduction in the risk of developing obesity-related cancers. The research, led by Dr. Inmaculada Aguilera-Buenosvinos, from the department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Navarra, and an international team of experts, is part of the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition) cohort study, which has followed more than 450,000 people in 10 European countries for almost 15 years.
The study analyzed the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean per diem expenses diet and the incidence of obesity-related cancers, esophageal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer in women after menopause, colorectal cancer, uterine and ovarian cancer, gallbladder cancer, some stomach cancers, pancreatic and thyroid cancer, and meningioma. The per diem expenses of the participants were assessed by means of validated questionnaires, assigning a score from 0 to 9 according to their level of adherence to Mediterranean per diem expenses .
The results showed that volunteers with a high Degree conformity to the classic Mediterranean patron saint (7-9 points) had a lower risk of developing these types of cancer compared to those with a high Degree leave conformity to the Mediterranean per diem expenses (0-3 points). "One of the most relevant findings is that the reduction in cancer risk is not mediated by body mass index (BMI) or waist-to-hip ratio, suggesting that the protective effects of Mediterranean per diem expenses go beyond simple weight regulation," explains Dr. Aguilera-Buenosvinos.
In this sense, for Dr. Estefanía Toledo, also attached to CIBEROBN -the Biomedical research center in network of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition of the Carlos III Health Institute- and IdiSNA, the evidence provided by the research highlights the benefits of the Mediterranean patron saint : "These results reinforce the idea that the Mediterranean per diem expenses can contribute to cancer prevention through additional mechanisms, possibly related to its anti-inflammatory effect and its richness in antioxidants, among others".
Public Health Implications
Given that obesity continues to be an important risk factor for various chronic diseases, the researchers stress the importance of promoting Mediterranean per diem expenses as a preventive strategy. "This study highlights the need to promote healthy eating patterns in the general population," remarks Dr. Aguilera-Buenosvinos.
Hence, the research, carried out with the support of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and several European research institutions, underlines the relevance of further exploring the biological mechanisms that explain the benefits of Mediterranean per diem expenses in reducing the risk of cancer.
