The Study
In this French study, 98,995
women had their diet monitored for a period of 15 years. Each subject was given
a score that reflected how well they followed a Mediterranean diet. The score
was based on intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereal products, olive
oil, fish, dairy products, meat products and alcohol. Women who most closely
followed a Mediterranean diet had a 17% lower risk of skin cancer when compared
to women who did not follow a Mediterranean diet. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2019;110:993-1002.
Take Home Message
This is a really interesting
study. It is the first I have seen that links a healthy diet to a reduced risk
of skin cancer. One potential mechanism is that the Mediterranean diet contains
high levels of antioxidant nutrients like beta carotene, retinol, vitamin C and
E, folate and vitamin D. These antioxidants may act to reduce damage to DNA.
Another potential mechanism is that subjects consuming a Mediterranean diet
consume healthier fats like omega 3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fat. These
fats may reduce inflammation and in turn, reduce risk of skin cancer. Either
way, this study provides more evidence that a Mediterranean diet is a very
healthy way to eat.
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