The Mediterranean Diet and Cancer: What Do Human and Molecular Studies Have to Say about It?
- PMID: 31505794
- PMCID: PMC6769497
- DOI: 10.3390/nu11092155
The Mediterranean Diet and Cancer: What Do Human and Molecular Studies Have to Say about It?
Abstract
Mediterranean diet (MD) is a well-known healthy dietary pattern, linked to: (1) high intakes of olive oil as main the culinary fat, plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, tree nuts, and seeds), and fish; and (2) a moderate consumption of white meat, eggs, dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, and wine always with meals [...].
Keywords: Mediterranean diet; cancer; meta-analysis; molecular mechanisms; prospective human studies.
Conflict of interest statement
Á.H. declares no conflict of interest. R.E. reports grants from Bicentury SA, Cerveza y Salud, Grand Fountaine, and Novartis SA; and personal fees from Brewers of Europe, FIVIN, Fundación Cerveza y Salud, Lilly Laboratories, and Wine and Culinary International Forum outside the submitted work.
Figures

Similar articles
-
[Origin, components and mechanisms of action of the Mediterranean diet].Rev Med Chil. 2017 Jan;145(1):85-95. doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872017000100012. Rev Med Chil. 2017. PMID: 28393974 Review. Spanish.
-
"Towards an even healthier Mediterranean diet".Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Dec;23(12):1163-6. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2013.09.003. Epub 2013 Oct 11. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013. PMID: 24263037
-
The immune protective effect of the Mediterranean diet against chronic low-grade inflammatory diseases.Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2014;14(4):245-54. doi: 10.2174/1871530314666140922153350. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2014. PMID: 25244229 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Is olive oil good for you? A systematic review and meta-analysis on anti-inflammatory benefits from regular dietary intake.Nutrition. 2020 Jan;69:110559. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2019.110559. Epub 2019 Jul 25. Nutrition. 2020. PMID: 31539817
-
Underrated aspects of a true Mediterranean diet: understanding traditional features for worldwide application of a "Planeterranean" diet.J Transl Med. 2024 Mar 21;22(1):294. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05095-w. J Transl Med. 2024. PMID: 38515140 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
The Role of Socioeconomic Status in Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Body Mass Index Change: A Follow-Up Study in the General Population of Southern Croatia.Nutrients. 2021 Oct 26;13(11):3802. doi: 10.3390/nu13113802. Nutrients. 2021. PMID: 34836057 Free PMC article.
-
Prevalent Seasoning and Cooking Fats, Arterial Stiffness and Blood Lipid Pattern in a Rural Population Sample: Data from the Brisighella Heart Study.Nutrients. 2020 Oct 7;12(10):3063. doi: 10.3390/nu12103063. Nutrients. 2020. PMID: 33036471 Free PMC article.
-
Beneficial Diets and Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Practice.Front Oncol. 2021 May 28;11:630972. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.630972. eCollection 2021. Front Oncol. 2021. PMID: 34123787 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Brassicaceae-Derived Anticancer Agents: Towards a Green Approach to Beat Cancer.Nutrients. 2020 Mar 24;12(3):868. doi: 10.3390/nu12030868. Nutrients. 2020. PMID: 32213900 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Neuroendocrine tumors and diabetes mellitus: which treatment and which effect.Endocrine. 2025 Apr;88(1):36-50. doi: 10.1007/s12020-024-04149-9. Epub 2025 Jan 3. Endocrine. 2025. PMID: 39752043 Review.
References
-
- Toledo E., Salas-Salvadó J., Donat-Vargas C., Buil-Cosiales P., Estruch R., Ros E., Corella D., Fitó M., Hu F.B., Arós F., et al. Mediterranean Diet and Invasive Breast Cancer Risk Among Women at High Cardiovascular Risk in the PREDIMED Trial: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern. Med. 2015;175:1752–1760. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.4838. - DOI - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources