The Mediterranean diet has long been praised for its health benefits, but recent research highlights its significant role in reducing the risk of multiple heart and metabolic diseases. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition examined the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the onset of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM), particularly in a UK-based cohort known as the EPIC-Norfolk study.
Cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), which encompass conditions such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart attacks, are increasingly prevalent as global populations age. Many individuals experience multiple co-occurring diseases, a phenomenon referred to as multimorbidity, which can severely impact quality of life and strain healthcare systems. In the UK, CMM affects approximately 3% to 6% of the population and can reduce life expectancy by up to 15 years for those aged 60 and older.
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of olive oil, fish, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and has been previously associated with a lower risk of CMD. This diet is believed to provide protective effects against the development of various conditions, including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. However, the specific impact of the Mediterranean diet on the progression from a single CMD to multiple CMDs has not been thoroughly explored until now.
The recent study aimed to fill this gap by investigating how adherence to the Mediterranean diet influences the transition from being free of CMD to developing the first CMD, and subsequently to experiencing CMM. Researchers utilized two different Mediterranean diet scores to assess participants’ dietary habits and their correlation with CMD risk over time.
Findings from the study revealed that individuals who closely followed the Mediterranean diet were less likely to develop a second cardiometabolic disease, especially during shorter follow-up periods. Specifically, the protective effects were most pronounced at the 10- and 15-year follow-ups, with hazard ratios indicating a 33% and 20% reduction in risk, respectively. However, the benefits appeared to diminish over longer follow-up durations, suggesting that while the diet is beneficial in the early stages of disease progression, its long-term impact may be less significant.
Interestingly, the research also uncovered that the protective effects of the Mediterranean diet varied based on social class. Non-manual workers exhibited more pronounced benefits compared to their manual counterparts, highlighting the complex interplay between diet, socioeconomic status, and health outcomes.
In terms of specific diseases, the study found that the Mediterranean diet had a more substantial protective effect against the transition from first myocardial infarction (MI) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) to CMM, while the impact on stroke-related transitions was less pronounced. This insight underscores the importance of dietary choices in managing and preventing the progression of these diseases.
As the prevalence of CMD and multimorbidity continues to rise, understanding the role of diet becomes increasingly critical. The Mediterranean diet not only serves as a preventive measure for initial disease development but also plays a crucial role in mitigating the risk of subsequent diseases. These findings reinforce the importance of promoting healthy eating patterns as a public health strategy to combat the growing burden of cardiometabolic diseases.
In summary, the Mediterranean diet emerges as a powerful ally in the fight against cardiometabolic multimorbidity, particularly for individuals at risk. By encouraging adherence to this diet, healthcare providers can potentially improve health outcomes and enhance the quality of life for those affected by multiple chronic conditions.
