The Mediterranean diet is the traditional diet of populations living in southern Europe and parts of North Africa. The diet consists of high intakes of whole grains, olives, extra virgin olive oil, fish and red wine, with low intakes of red meat, sugar and refined grains. Epidemiological data shows that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet include a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. In addition, clinical trials have shown that the Mediterranean diet is able to improve a number of clinical markers such as blood lipid profiles, body weight, systemic oxidative stress and inflammation and insulin sensitivity. These data suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet could decrease the risk of premature death. In fact recent research has demonstrated that following the Mediterranean diet as part of a healthy lifestyle could decrease mortality in both men and women.
Researchers1 have followed a cohort of 120,852 Dutch subjects aged between 55 and 69 who were enrolled on a study in 1986. Follow-up of the subjects was performed in 1996, at which point the associations between lifestyle choices and mortality were assessed. The lifestyles of the subjects were scored using a points system based on the attainment of certain criteria, which were adherence to the Mediterranean diet, non-smoking, normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 25kg/m2) and regular physical activity. The score was rated from 4 points for the most healthy lifestyle (all 4 criteria met), to 0 points for the least healthy lifestyle. During the study period there were 9691 deaths recorded. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly inversely associated with a reduction in mortality in women, but not men. However, the healthy lifestyle score was significantly inversely associated with mortality for both men and women.
When the least healthy subjects were compared to the most healthy subjects, a hazard ratio of 4.07 and 2.61 were shown in women and men, respectively (meaning the least healthy subjects died at a rate of 4.07 and 2.61 the rate of healthy subjects for women and men, respectively). The authors concluded that the advancement in mortality demonstrated by those individuals with the healthiest lifestyles was 15.1 years for women and 8.4 years for men. The Mediterranean diet is thought to give health benefits because of the high content of antioxidant plant nutrients, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and soluble and insoluble fibres. In addition, it is likely that the moderate ethanol intake also contributes to the cardiovascular benefits of the diet, as has been demonstrated in research investigating the effects of moderate drinking on vascular disease. Switching to a Mediterranean diet as parts of a healthy lifestyle may therefore increase life expectancy.
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