Mediterranean diet may lower risk of diabetes

A Mediterranean diet, rich in beans, nuts, fish and olive oil, is linked to a lower risk of diabetes, especially among people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, scientists have found.
According to data from the first pooled analysis of studies evaluating the possible role of the Mediterranean diet on diabetes development, adherence to this diet was associated with a 21 per cent reduced risk of diabetes as compared to the control dietary groups.
This reduced risk was even more pronounced among people at high risk for cardiovascular disease - among whom diabetes prevention is especially critical.
The analysis showed that patients in this subgroup were almost 27 per cent less likely to develop diabetes compared to controls.

"Adherence to the Mediterranean diet may prevent the development of diabetes irrespective of age, sex, race or culture," said Demosthenes Panagiotakos, professor at Harokopio University, Athens, Greece, and lead investigator of this meta-analysis.
"This diet has a beneficial effect, even in high risk groups, and speaks to the fact that it is never too late to start eating a healthy diet," Panagiotakos said.

The researchers systematically reviewed 19 original research studies that followed more than 162,000 participants for an average of 5.5 years.
These studies spanned European and non-European populations, which Panagiotakos said is important as most of the published studies have been European-based and there has been some question of possible confounding factors in these regions, including genetics, the environment, lifestyle and lower stress levels.

But researchers found that regardless of the study population - European or non-European or high or low risk of cardiovascular disease - the association between the Mediterranean diet and lower risk of diabetes remained.
While there is no set Mediterranean diet, it commonly emphasises fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, olive oil and even a glass of red wine.
Panagiotakos said he believes the Mediterranean diet, in particular, lowers the risk of diabetes by helping to guard against obesity.
Earlier research has shown that following the traditional Mediterranean diet is also linked to weight loss, reduced risk of heart disease and related death, as well as lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels.

The research will be presented at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology.