Mediterranean Diet Cuts Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study

Switching over to a Mediterranean diet may be the answer in providing protection against type 2 diabetesdefine, even for those in the higher-risk category, a Spanish study concludes.

Though already known to guard against cardiovascular disease, a Mediterranean diet is often described as - abundant plant foods, fresh fruit as the typical daily dessert, olive oil as the principal source of fat, dairy products (principally cheese and yogurt) and fish and poultry consumed in low to moderate amounts, zero to four eggs consumed weekly, red meat consumed in low amounts and wine consumed in low to moderate amounts.

Type 2 Diabetesdefine, also known as the adult-onset diabetes, is a metabolic disorder that is primarily characterized by insulindefine resistance. Usually seen in adults over age 40, it can often be managed by engaging in exercise and modifying one's diet.

A team of Spanish researchers tracked the diets of over 13,000 university graduates with no history of diabetes. A 136-item food questionnaire focusing on the entire diet, cooking procedures and use of dietary supplements was closely filled in by the Spanish graduates.

Upon a follow up of averaging nearly 4.4 years, the participants who remained on a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of developing type 2-diabetes. Clear takers of the Mediterranean diet posted a reduced risk of as high as 83 percent, researchers found.

Even those who kept to the diet at a moderate level had a 59 percent reduced risk of getting the disease, researchers noted.

Also overcoming high risk factors of developing type 2-diabetes, like obesity, age, family history and lifestyle inclinations, the participants who stuck closest to the Mediterranean diet reduced their odds of developing it, researchers found.

The study also had certain limitations. "The use of food-frequency questionnaires, is a limitation to actual intake, since most people don't know their real eating patterns and tend to 'guess' rather than provide real data," Connie Diekman, director of nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, said, highlighting them.

Furthermore, "since the study is observational, it is hard to determine if other factors may have had an impact. Self-reporting of study factors always compounds outcomes," she added.

"Our prospective cohort study, however, suggests that substantial protection against diabetes can be obtained with the traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, legumes and fish but relatively low in meat and dairy products," the researchers concluded.

The study features in the online edition, May 30, in the British Medical Journal.