A Mediterranean diet heavy on extra-virgin olive oil has just been shown to significantly lower the risk of malignant breast cancer. The research published in JAMA Internal Medicine is an extension of a Spanish study called PREDIMED.
PREDIMED:
Almost three years ago the first phase of the trial demonstrated that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with either nuts or 4 tablespoons of olive oil daily could reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. (We wrote about that study here.)
Cognitive Health:
In the spring of 2015 a second phase of the study revealed that compared to a lower fat diet, the Mediterranean diet with added nuts or olive oil could help reduce the risk of memory loss and cognitive decline in older people. (We wrote about that part of the study here.)
Breast Cancer:
Now, the same high-fat Mediterranean diet has been shown to lower the risk of developing breast cancer. The Spanish investigators randomly assigned about 4,000 women to either a low-fat diet or a Mediterranean diet plus four tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil daily or the same diet plus an ounce of nuts daily.
Results of a Mediterranean Diet Against Breast Cancer:
After nearly five years, the women following a Mediterranean-type diet with 4 daily tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil had a 68 percent lower relative risk of being diagnosed with malignant breast cancer compared to the control group following a lower-fat diet. That translates to approximately 1 woman/1,000 on the olive-oil-enriched diet getting a breast cancer diagnosis compared to 2.9 women/1,000 on the lower-fat diet. Those on the high-nut Mediterranean diet had an intermediate risk, about 1.8 women/1,000 diagnosed.
The researchers point out that there were relatively few cases of breast cancer among these women, and it would be better to have an additional study to confirm this benefit. Previous research in Greece points the same direction, however, so it might make sense for women to strive to follow a Mediterranean diet with plenty of extra-virgin olive oil. It appears that the polyphenols in the olive oil might be important in achieving this risk reduction.
JAMA Internal Medicine, online, Sept. 14, 2015
Our book, The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies, outlines the basics of a Mediterranean diet so that you can try this at home. You may also wish to listen to Dr. Barry Sears discuss the Mediterranean Zone approach to eating.
