The results of a new study have revealed that women who eat a Mediterranean diet reduce their risk of uterine cancer by 57 percent.
Published in the British Journal of Cancer, the study analyzed three case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland between 1983 and 2006, examining the cases of 1,411 women with confirmed cases of cancer of the uterus and a control group of 3,668 patients.
Case-control studies such as this one compare the “cases” of those who are afflicted with a disease with patients or “controls” who do not have the disease but are comparable, so that factors contributing to the disease may be identified.
The researchers used a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) made up of the nine dietary components which are characteristic of the diet, i.e. a high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts, cereals, monounsaturated fats like olive oil (rather than saturated fats like butter and lard), a moderate intake of fish, a low consumption of meat and poultry, dairy products, and a moderate alcohol intake.
The researchers found that the women who regularly consumed at least six of the diet’s components reduced their risk of uterine cancer by 46 percent, while those who ate only five reduced their risk by 34 percent. Those who consumed fewer than five did not lower their risk significantly.
The study concludes that the results provide evidence that the Mediterranean diet can protect from cancer of the uterus because it is high in fibre, antioxidants, phytochemicals and unsaturated fatty acids.
Dr. Cristina Bosetti, the lead author of the study stated: “Our research shows the impact a healthy balanced diet could have on a woman’s risk of developing womb cancer. This adds more weight to our understanding of how our everyday choices, like what we eat and how active we are, affect our risk of cancer.”
The study was funded by the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research, the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss League Against Cancer.
The Mediterranean Diet has also been proven to protect from other types of cancer and chronic diseases like heart disease, protect against obesity in children, promote longevity and improve cognitive function.
See Also:Olive Oil Health Benefits
Related Articles
Oct. 23, 2023
Common Olive Pomace Compound Demonstrates Anticancer Potential
Researchers developed nanoparticles of maslinic acid, which has been shown to help combat breast, colon, pancreatic and prostate cancers through various therapies.
Jul. 13, 2023
Consuming Oleuropein May Mitigate the Effects of Aging on Muscular Atrophy
New research purports to demonstrate that aged mice which ate a diet supplemented with olive leaf extract rich in oleuropein increased muscle mass.
Oct. 26, 2023
Research Shows the Role of Polyphenols in Inhibiting Cancer Metastasis
Spanish scientists investigated the role of oleocanthal and oleacein in modulating angiogenesis, which is directly related to the progression of different types of tumors.
Jun. 8, 2023
Med Diet Benefits Similar to Walking 4,000 Steps, Study Finds
Researchers at a Boston hospital found that following the Mediterranean diet had a similar health benefit to walking 4,000 steps each day.
Jul. 19, 2023
Exploring the Health Benefits of Hydroxytyrosol in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Hydroxytyrosol is among the 25 phenolic compounds found in extra virgin olive oil, playing a role in preventing noncommunicable diseases.
Nov. 27, 2023
Mediterranean Diet Helps Slow Age-Related Physical Decline, Study Finds
New research has shown that following a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet and increasing physical activity slows age-associated muscle loss and reduces total and visceral fat.
Jul. 26, 2023
Mediterranean Diet Associated with Successful Aging, Study Finds
Researchers found that Greeks who followed the Mediterranean diet were healthier and more active as they aged than those who followed the diet less closely.
Jan. 15, 2024
Oleocanthal: Behind the Health Benefits of Olive Oil's Famous Phenol
Found solely in extra virgin olive oil, oleocanthal demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory properties and has been linked to beneficial impacts on cancer and dementia.