A recent study indicates that combining a Mediterranean diet with calorie reduction and moderate exercise can lead to a significant decrease in the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Specifically, the research suggests a potential risk reduction of up to 31% for individuals adhering to these lifestyle changes. This study, conducted by researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, highlights the critical role of dietary and lifestyle modifications in preventing a growing global health crisis.
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, with limited red meat consumption. Previous studies, including a large trial by the University of Granada in 2020, have linked this dietary pattern to improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation, factors that contribute to lower diabetes risk. In that trial, which examined over 100,000 individuals, a high adherence score to the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Questionnaire was associated with a 20% reduction in T2D incidence.
In the latest study, researchers followed 4,746 participants from the PREDIMED-Plus initiative over six years. Participants, aged between 55 and 75 years, were overweight or obese and had metabolic syndrome but were initially free of T2D and cardiovascular disease. They were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which adhered to a strict Mediterranean diet, reduced their caloric intake by approximately 600 calories per day, and engaged in moderate physical activity, or a control group that followed the Mediterranean diet without additional restrictions or support.
The findings revealed that the intervention group experienced a T2D incidence of 9.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.4% to 9.5%), compared to 12% (95% CI, 11.9% to 12.1%) in the control group. This translates to a risk reduction of approximately 31% for the intervention group compared to the control group, equating to an average decrease of 2.6 cases per 1,000 person-years. Furthermore, those in the intervention group lost an average of 3.3 kilograms and reduced their waist circumference by 3.6 centimeters, while the control group saw minimal changes, averaging a weight loss of 0.6 kilograms and a waist reduction of 0.3 centimeters.
“In practical terms, adding calorie control and physical activity to the Mediterranean diet prevented around three out of every 100 people from developing diabetes—a clear, measurable benefit for public health,” stated Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, PharmD, PhD, and professor at the University of Navarra, in a statement.
Dr. Frank Hu, co-author of the study and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, emphasized the urgency of addressing the diabetes epidemic. “With the highest-level evidence, our study shows that modest, sustained changes in diet and lifestyle could prevent millions of cases of this disease worldwide,” he stated.
The implications of this research underscore the importance of dietary choices and lifestyle modifications in the prevention of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. As the global prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, studies like this highlight actionable strategies that can be employed to mitigate risk and improve overall health outcomes.
