The anticancer and antiobesity effects of Mediterranean diet

ABSTRACT

Cancers have been the leading cause of death worldwide and the prevalence of obesity is also increasing in these few decades. Interestingly, there is a direct association between cancer and obesity. Each year, more than 90,000 cancer deaths are caused by obesity or overweight. The dietary pattern in Crete, referred as the traditional Mediterranean diet, is believed to confer Crete people the low mortality rates from cancers. Nevertheless, the antiobesity effect of the Mediterranean diet is less studied. Given the causal relationship between obesity and cancer, the antiobesity effect of traditional Mediterranean diet might contribute to its anticancer effects. In this regard, we will critically review the anticancer and antiobesity effects of this diet and its dietary factors. The possible mechanisms underlying these effects will also be discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Mediterranean diet
• obesity
• cancer
• nutrition
• olive oil
• polyphenols

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Funding

This work was partially supported by Research Grant Council of SAR of Hong Kong under HKBU260613 and the Hong Kong Baptist University grant FRG2/12-13/039 to HYKWAN; and Research Grant Council of SAR of Hong Kong under HKBU262512 to ZLYU.