Mediterranean diet cancer

Garcia Mediero JM, Ferruelo Alonso A, Paez Borda A, Lujan Galan M, Angulo Cuesta J, Chiva Robles V, Berenguer Sanchez A. 2005. Effect of polyphenols from the Mediterranean diet on proliferation and mediators of in vitro invasiveness of the MB-49 murine bladder cancer cell line. Actas Urol Esp 29 743-749. 

The observation of a lower incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and certain types of cancers in the Mediterranean area led to the hypothesis that a diet rich in grain, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, wine in moderate amounts, and olive oil was beneficial to human health. To date, this effect has been mainly attributed to the low saturated fat intake of the Mediterranean diet and its high proportion of monounsaturates, which indeed may favorably affect the plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles. Nevertheless, other components of the diet, such as fiber, vitamins, flavonoids, and phenols, may play an important role in disease prevention, acting on different cardiovascular variables. 

Kang, J.X., et al., Fat-1 mice convert n-6 to n-3 fatty acids. Nature, All, 504, 2004. de Lorgeril, M., et al., Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Lancet, 343, 1454, 1994. de Lorgeril, M. and Salen, P, Modified Cretan Mediterranean diet in the prevention of coronary heart disease and cancer. World Rev. Nutr. Diet., 87, 1, 2000. 

In 1995, researchers conclnded that tree nuts, as one of the integral plant foods in the traditional Mediterranean diet, had been overlooked by the nntrition research community [2]. In 1997, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) acknowledged that nuts and seeds, which have been common in hnman diets since preagricultnral times, are nntrient dense and a good source of unsaturated fats, protein, dietary fiber, phytochemicals, and micronutrients [3]. Interestingly, the WCRF referred to Brazil nuts, macadamias, and cashews as seeds [3]. According to the WCRF, nuts needed to be identified separately in human studies to better evaluate their protective effects on human health [3]. 

Escrich, E., Moral, R. Solanas, M. (2011). Olive oil, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, and breast cancer. Public Health Nutrition, 14(Special Issue 12A), 2323-32. 

Benetou, V., Trichopoulou, A., Orfanos, P., Naska, A., Lagiou, P., Boffetta, P., et al. (2008). Greek EPIC cohort. Conformity to traditional Mediterranean diet and cancer incidence The Greek EPIC cohort. Brit. J. Cancer, 99(1), 191-195. 

Population Level Divergence from the Mediterranean Diet and the Risk of Cancer and... 

POPULATION LEVEL DIVERGENCE FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND THE RISK OF CANCER AND METABOLIC DISEASE... 

Verlangieri et al. (1985) observed that the time trend of fruit and vegetable intake is inversely related to mortality from atherosclerotic diseases in the United States. Gey et al. (1987a,b) showed that in cross-sectional comparison, a vegetarian diet correlates inversely not only with cancer, but also with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Also, in a study by Knekt et al. (1994) fruit and vegetable consumption was inversely related with coronary mortality. The effect of a Mediterranean diet, rich... 

Aromatic herbs and spices are an important part of human nutrition and have a place in all the cultures of the world. The literature describes how they impart flavour and reduce the need for salt and fatty condiments, improve digestion, and provide the organism with bioactive compounds that could prevent the appearance of physiological and metabolic alterations. An example of this would be the Mediterranean Diet. Mediterranean diets do include considerable amounts of oregano, rosemary, basil, and thyme, among other herbs, which may help to explain some of the protective effects against some chronic diseases such as heart disease or cancer, observed in populations following more traditional Mediterranean diets (Tapsell etal. 2006). 

The health benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet are extensively documented [3,4] and include protective effects against cardiovascular diseases [5-11], diabetes [12,13], rheumatoid arthritis [14], intestinal diseases [15], and several types of cancers [16-18]. Some constituents of wine and olive oil (particularly polyphenols) play a key role in most of such healthy effects. 

La Vecchia, C., Mediterranean diet and cancer. Public Health Nutr., 1, 965, 2004. 

A large body of evidence suggests a beneficial effect of MUFA in the diet. Although much remains to be learned about the mechanisms by which Cigu acts, it is believed to lower risks of CHD, several common cancers, cataracts, and other inflammatory disorders. It is suggested, therefore, that consuming MUFA, for instance in the form of olive oil as used widely in the Mediterranean diet, is likely to enhance long-term health. 

La Vecchia C, Bosetti C. 2006. Diet and cancer risk in Mediterranean countries Open issues. Public Health Nutr 9 1077-1082. 

Epidemiological studies in the Mediterranean region evidenced that a diet rich in grain, legumes, fruits and vegetables, wine and olive oil has beneficial effects on human health. In fact, these foods are rich in antioxidant vitamins, flavonoids and polyphenols that play an important role in prevention against cancer and coronary heart disease. 

Several experimental data supported that VOQ contains a higher concentration of three phenolic antioxidants classes, simple phenols, secoiridoids and lignans, and squaiene than RVO and seed oils. For these reasons, in the Mediterranean region, where olive oil is an essential constituent of the diet, there is a lower incidence of cancer and heart disease [63],... 

---