Mediterranean Diet Cuts Type 2 Diabetes Risk by 31%, Major Study Finds

Insights from the PREDIMED-Plus Trial

According to НВ — Техно: Following a Mediterranean diet with reduced calorie intake and moderate physical activity can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 31%, according to findings from the PREDIMED-Plus study. This discovery underscores how combining dietary changes with exercise can be a powerful strategy for preventing the disease.

Spanning six years, the PREDIMED-Plus trial involved over 200 researchers from 22 universities, hospitals, and research institutions across Spain. A total of 4,746 participants aged 55 to 75, all of whom were overweight or obese and had metabolic syndrome, took part. None had a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The research was conducted at more than 100 primary care centers within Spain's National Health System, and the results were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dietary Intervention and Key Outcomes

The Mediterranean diet tested in the study required cutting daily calorie intake by roughly 600 kcal. Those in the intervention group lost an average of 3.3 kg (about 7.3 pounds) and reduced their waist circumference by 3.6 cm (around 1.4 inches). In contrast, the control group shed only 0.6 kg (about 1.3 pounds) and saw a waist reduction of just 0.3 cm (roughly 0.1 inches).

Type 2 diabetes remains a global health crisis, affecting over 530 million people worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Federation. In Spain, approximately 4.7 million adults live with the condition, while Europe reports more than 65 million cases and the United States around 38.5 million.

Study co-author Miguel Ruiz-Canela noted: 'The Mediterranean diet works synergistically, improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation.'

Miguel Ángel Martínez-González added: 'Diabetes is the first major clinical outcome for which we have demonstrated-using the strongest available evidence-that a calorie-restricted Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity and weight loss is an exceptionally effective preventive tool.' He also emphasized that 'this is a tasty, sustainable, and culturally acceptable approach that offers a practical and effective way to prevent type 2 diabetes-a global disease that is largely avoidable.'

Overall, the PREDIMED-Plus results highlight the positive impact of pairing a Mediterranean diet with exercise to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, a finding with significant implications for public health.

These findings could inform new guidelines for diabetes prevention, potentially easing the burden on healthcare systems in countries with high rates of the disease. Since type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of serious complications like cardiovascular disease, continued research in this area is vital to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.

In addition to dietary changes, recent advancements in diabetes treatment may also play a significant role in managing blood sugar levels and aiding weight loss. A new experimental drug has shown considerable effectiveness in these areas, which could complement lifestyle modifications like the Mediterranean diet. For more details on this promising development, visit this article.