Research Radartracking 11 published studies · 7 human · 9 clinical trials · 13 cancer pages · updated Jun 2026Open the Research Map →
Diet

Mediterranean diet

A dietary pattern high in vegetables, olive oil, legumes, and fish, studied in cancer prevention and survivorship.

Educational only. This page reports what published guidelines and studies describe. It is not medical advice and is not a claim that mediterranean diet treats, prevents, or cures cancer. Decisions are yours and your care team's.

What the studies report: a cited, human-reviewed summary, kept current as the evidence changes and retracted findings are removed.

Reviewed Jun 2026 · OncoForge editorial · How we review →

Evidence at a glanceNo graded study evidence yet
350 source documents in the Mediterranean diet corpus

last checked June 9, 2026

Key points

  • Overview: The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a predominantly plant-based dietary pattern centered on fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil, with lower intake of red and processed meats and moderate alcohol or wine in some definitions. The sources mainly discuss it in relation to cancer prevention, cancer risk, survivorship, and supportive care, with some reviews also covering mortality, recurrence, and quality-of-life outcomes.

6 sections — tap any heading to expand its cited detail. Key points are above.

OverviewThe Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a predominantly plant-based dietary pattern centered on fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil, with lower intake of red and processed meats and moderate alcohol or wine in some definitions. The sources mainly discuss it in relation to cancer prevention, cancer risk, survivorship, and supportive care, with some reviews also covering mortality, recurrence, and quality-of-life outcomes.38 points
  • Sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a pattern high in plant-based foods, with moderate intake of olive oil, fish, and nuts; one source also operationalized adherence using nine food components, but the provided text does not list them. [1][2]
  • The sources discuss the Mediterranean diet mainly in relation to cancer prevention and cancer survivorship, and one guideline also mentions it in the context of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. [1][3][4][5]
  • The Mediterranean diet was studied in relation to colorectal cancer risk in a 2025 CUP Global systematic review of dietary patterns, which included 53 observational studies and 3 randomized controlled trials. [6]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil, with moderate fish, dairy products, and alcohol and low red meat and refined foods/sweets. [7][8]
  • The sources report studies of Mediterranean-diet adherence in cancer risk, cancer survival, and survivorship outcomes. [9][7][10][8]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern with high intake of fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil, moderate intake of dairy products and red wine, and low consumption of added sugar, processed foods, and red meats. [11][12]
  • The sources include both intervention studies in adults with cancer and observational studies on cancer risk and mortality. [11][13][14][15][16]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, fish, and unsaturated fats, with lower intake of red and processed meats and moderate alcohol intake. [17][18][19][20]
  • The sources mainly evaluate Mediterranean diet adherence in relation to cancer risk in observational studies, and one umbrella review summarizes prospective observational meta-analyses. [17][18][19][21]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a plant-based dietary pattern with high intake of olive oil and plant foods, low-to-moderate intake of dairy products, fish and poultry, moderate alcohol intake, and low intake of red meat and sweets. [22][23]
  • The sources studied the Mediterranean diet in cancer prevention, cancer risk, and survivorship settings, including breast cancer survivorship, lung cancer risk, and early-onset colorectal adenoma or carcinoma risk. [22][24][25][23]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern characterized by fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains or cereals, fish, olive oil, moderate wine intake, and low-to-moderate dairy and meat intake. [26][27]
  • The sources studied the Mediterranean diet in cancer prevention, cancer prognosis among survivors, and chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. [26][28][27][29]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a plant-based dietary pattern with high intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, cereals including whole grains, fish, and extra-virgin olive oil, with lower intake of red and processed meat and moderate alcohol or wine in some definitions. [30][31][32]
  • The sources mainly study the Mediterranean diet in relation to cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and cancer survivorship outcomes, rather than during active cancer treatment. [30][33][34]
  • Across umbrella and systematic reviews, greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was reported to be associated with lower risk of overall cancer incidence, but the evidence for most site-specific cancers was described as suggestive, weak, or inconsistent. [35][36][37]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of plant-based foods and moderate intake of olive oil, fish, and nuts. [38]
  • The sources report that the Mediterranean diet has been studied in relation to cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and cancer recurrence among cancer survivors. [38]
  • Sources describe a Mediterranean-style low-risk diet for cancer as emphasizing fruit and vegetables, fish, whole-grain foods, and olive oil or other unsaturated fats, while avoiding higher intakes of meat and refined carbohydrates. [39][40][41]
  • The sources mainly discuss the Mediterranean diet in cancer prevention and in survivorship or intervention studies, rather than as a treatment during active cancer therapy. [42][40][41]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern with high consumption of whole grains, olive oil, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, and seeds, with lower consumption of red meat and sweets and moderate consumption of eggs and fish. [43]
  • The sources discuss the Mediterranean diet mainly in relation to cancer prevention, quality of life, and cachexia-related outcomes. [43][44][45][46][47][48]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and olive oil. [49][50]
  • The sources discuss the Mediterranean diet in relation to cancer prevention, survivorship, and supportive care contexts rather than as a single uniform intervention. [49][50][51][52][53]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a plant-based dietary pattern and note that it is rich in polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. [54][55]
  • The sources include studies of the Mediterranean diet in cancer prevention, cancer survivorship, and as part of broader lifestyle interventions. [56][57][58][55]
  • The sources study Mediterranean-diet adherence in relation to breast cancer risk and prostate cancer survival; one multiple myeloma study examined a broader healthy lifestyle score and reported that Mediterranean-diet adherence was not independently associated with MM risk. [59][60][61]
  • One source describes the Mediterranean diet as a pattern with high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil, moderate fish intake, and limited red and processed meats. [59]
  • One source notes that alcohol was part of the original Mediterranean diet score but was omitted in that study because alcohol consumption was not assessed. [59]
  • The Mediterranean diet is a dietary pattern that was studied in cancer survivors and in other cancer-related cohorts in the provided sources. [62][63][64]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern that commonly includes legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, and olive oil. [65]
  • One review states that Mediterranean-diet adherence was not consistently linked to reduced prostate-cancer risk. [66]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern studied in cancer care and survivorship, including prostate cancer intervention design and cancer survival outcomes. [67][68]
  • A systematic review and meta-analysis included 17 studies on cancer patients and reported that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower overall mortality and better disease-free survival in breast cancer. [68]
  • The Mediterranean diet is described in the sources as a dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and fish. [69][70][71]
  • The sources discuss Mediterranean-diet adherence in relation to cancer prevention, cancer risk, and biomarker or microbiota outcomes, and also include supportive-care or treatment-related contexts rather than only active-therapy treatment. [72][69][70][71]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern whose core components include whole grains, fish, olive oil, yogurt, and cheese, and one guideline source frames it as a holistic lifestyle model rather than a restrictive dietary pattern. [73][74][75][76]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern that has been studied in relation to cancer prevention and, in some reviews, cancer management or survivorship. [75][77][74][78]
What studies reportStudies and reviews report that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower risk or mortality for several cancers, especially colorectal, breast, gastric, head and neck, lung, pancreatic, and hepatocellular cancers. Some intervention and survivorship studies also report feasibility, biomarker, quality-of-life, and mortality findings, but several reviews note limited, heterogeneous, or low-certainty evidence.92 points
  • In a colorectal-cancer survivorship meta-analysis, post-diagnosis Mediterranean diet adherence was studied for recurrence and fatigue, but the excerpt provided does not include pooled effect estimates. [5]
  • The EASO position statement says that obesity is associated with increased cancer incidence, progression, relapse, and worse outcomes, and that patients with obesity have more complications related to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy and less effective systemic chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. [1]
  • The EASO position statement says that a balanced diet rich in plant-based foods has been associated with reduced risk of developing various cancers, and that the Mediterranean diet has been correlated with decreased risk of several cancers. [1]
  • In the MENA-region breast-cancer review, some case-control studies reported lower breast-cancer risk with higher fruit and vegetable intake, but other studies found no significant association. [79]
  • The MENA-region breast-cancer review also reported mixed findings for dairy products, with some studies suggesting lower risk for some dairy patterns and others finding no significant association or higher risk for milk or high-fat dairy. [79]
  • In the 2025 CUP Global colorectal cancer review, the evidence for dietary patterns and colorectal cancer risk was synthesized narratively rather than by meta-analysis because of heterogeneity in pattern components and cutoffs. [6]
  • The 2025 colorectal cancer review reported that 42% of included studies had serious-to-critical bias related to confounding. [6]
  • The 2025 colorectal cancer meta-analysis reported pooled HRs of 0.85 in men and 0.88 in women for higher Mediterranean-diet adherence versus lower adherence, and a pooled HR of 0.51 in case-control studies. [80]
  • The 2025 colorectal cancer meta-analysis reported significant heterogeneity and a funnel plot suggesting possible publication bias. [80]
  • In the chemotherapy-toxicity review, one randomized trial tested a Mediterranean diet, but the review concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine which dietary intervention was most advantageous. [81]
  • The chemotherapy-toxicity review stated that the diets examined, including the Mediterranean diet, may complement conventional cancer therapy by helping to reduce chemotherapy toxicities, but it also said no intervention can be ruled out. [81]
  • In an umbrella review of hepatocellular carcinoma risk, Mediterranean-diet adherence was associated with lower risk in the included meta-analyses. [9]
  • In a meta-analysis of case-control studies, higher Mediterranean-diet adherence was associated with lower head and neck cancer risk, and one cohort study reported lower all-cause mortality and lower head and neck cancer-specific mortality. [7]
  • In the breast cancer survivorship umbrella review, higher Mediterranean-diet adherence was associated with lower all-cause mortality and lower non-breast-cancer mortality in the included synthesis. [8]
  • In the breast cancer survivorship umbrella review, Mediterranean-diet adherence was also reported alongside lower fasting glucose, lower triglycerides, reduced self-reported fatigue, and improvements in physical functioning and vitality in some studies. [8]
  • In the cancer mortality meta-analysis, dietary patterns including the Mediterranean diet were among the dietary changes studied after cancer diagnosis, but the excerpt provided does not give a pooled Mediterranean-diet-specific mortality estimate. [10]
  • In a 2024 systematic review of Mediterranean-style dietary interventions in adults with cancer, 14 interventions were included and the review reported feasibility data, adherence, safety, and preliminary health outcomes. [11]
  • The intervention review reports that the studies were conducted during treatment, after treatment, or both, and included outcomes such as body weight, body composition, cardiovascular biomarkers, quality of life, fatigue, inflammation, and nutrition status. [11]
  • The review also states that nutrition interventions using Mediterranean-style patterns were often combined with exercise or psychosocial support, and that several trials were designed with weight loss or weight maintenance goals. [11]
  • The 2024 olive oil meta-analysis found associations between olive oil consumption and lower all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cancer mortality in adults. [13]
  • A 2024 meta-analysis of observational studies found that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower colorectal adenoma risk. [14]
  • A 2024 meta-analysis of observational studies reported that Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower oral and oropharyngeal cancer risk in pooled analyses of priori dietary patterns. [15]
  • A 2023 umbrella review reported an inverse association between Mediterranean diet adherence and breast cancer risk in five of nine reviews, with the association appearing more consistent in postmenopausal women and not found in premenopausal women. [16]
  • A 2023 dose-response meta-analysis reported that higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower gastric cancer risk in observational studies. [17]
  • In the same meta-analysis, the case-control studies showed a stronger inverse association than the cohort studies. [17]
  • The gastric cancer meta-analysis reported lower risk estimates for both gastric cardia adenocarcinoma and gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma in subgroup analyses, but no significant reduction for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma in cohort studies. [17][18]
  • An umbrella review of prospective observational meta-analyses reported an inverse association between Mediterranean diet adherence and pancreatic cancer risk, but rated the evidence as weak. [21]
  • A systematic review of pancreatic cancer studies reported that most included studies were cohort studies and that the mean follow-up was 15.6 years. [19]
  • In a 2023 meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials in breast cancer survivors, the evidence for Mediterranean diet effects on survival, quality of life, and health-related outcomes was described as limited and insufficient for firm conclusions. [22]
  • In the same breast cancer survivorship review, most cohort studies reporting mortality were rated as low risk of bias, and the cohort study reporting recurrence was also rated as low risk of bias. [22]
  • In the breast cancer survivorship review, studies reporting quality of life or body mass index were predominantly cross-sectional and most were rated as high risk of bias. [22]
  • In the lung cancer meta-analysis, one cohort study from Iran reported no association between Mediterranean diet pattern and lung cancer risk. [23]
  • In a 2022 systematic review of mammographic breast density, one cross-sectional study found no association between adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern and mammographic breast density, while another reported an inverse association among post-menopausal women and non-smokers. [82]
  • In a 2022 systematic review of early-onset colorectal adenoma and carcinoma risk, one included study reported a protective effect for the alternative Mediterranean diet among colorectal adenomas. [25]
  • In a review of NAFLD-to-HCC progression, consistent evidence suggested that a Mediterranean diet was associated with lower risk of both NAFLD and HCC. [28]
  • In a review of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, the Mediterranean diet was reported in observational studies as being associated with nausea incidence and severity, and the certainty of the evidence was very low to low. [29]
  • In a randomized-trial review of anti-inflammatory diets, a Mediterranean diet was associated with statistically significant between-group differences in multiple inflammation markers compared with a control diet. [83]
  • In a 2020 dose-response meta-analysis of 13 prospective cohort studies, higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower colorectal cancer incidence, with a summary risk ratio of 0.96 per 2-point increase in Mediterranean diet adherence. [33]
  • The same meta-analysis reported a lower summary risk ratio for rectal cancer incidence, but not for proximal or distal colon cancer incidence, when highest and lowest Mediterranean diet adherence were compared. [33]
  • In the 2021 EPIC systematic review, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was reported as inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk in one EPIC study, while one Mediterranean-style score showed no association with colorectal cancer risk. [34]
  • In the 2021 updated systematic review and meta-analysis, higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower cancer mortality among cancer survivors in the pooled evidence, but the review also states that the certainty of evidence was assessed separately. [30]
  • A 2020 umbrella review reported robust evidence that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced overall cancer incidence. [35]
  • A 2020 systematic review reported benefits for several types of cancer, but also stated that the published evidence was generally moderate or low quality. [36]
  • For upper gastrointestinal cancers, a 2020 meta-analysis reported that higher Mediterranean Diet Score values were associated with lower risk, with a pooled odds ratio of 0.72 after trim-and-fill adjustment, and a pooled odds ratio of 0.59 for low Diet Inflammatory Index scores; the authors graded the overall evidence as low. [37]
  • For prostate cancer, a 2019 meta-analysis reported no significant association between Mediterranean dietary pattern and total, advanced, localized, or fatal prostate cancer risk. [84]
  • In an updated meta-analysis, the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower overall cancer mortality in cohort studies, but not in the single randomized trial analyzed for this outcome, and among cancer survivors it was not associated with cancer mortality. [38]
  • High adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern was associated with lower colorectal cancer risk and lower breast cancer risk in the updated meta-analysis. [38][85]
  • In the updated meta-analysis, the sources report inverse associations between higher Mediterranean diet adherence and some other cancer types, but the detailed estimates are not summarized in the source text provided here. [38]
  • A 2015 systematic review of colorectal cancer studies reported that higher Mediterranean Diet Score values were associated with an 8% to 54% lower colorectal cancer risk across included studies. [85]
  • A 2014 meta-analysis of cohort studies reported that a 2-point increase in Mediterranean diet adherence score was associated with a 4% reduction in neoplastic disease risk. [86]
  • A 2018 meta-analysis in elderly people reported that each 1-point increase in Mediterranean diet score was associated with a 5% lower risk of all-cause death. [87]
  • A 2008 meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies reported that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with lower overall mortality and lower mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer. [39]
  • A 2004 systematic analysis of case-control studies reported lower cancer risk with higher vegetable and fruit intake, with relative risks between 0.3 and 0.7 for the highest versus lowest tertile for most epithelial cancers, and frequent red meat intake was associated with relative risks above 1 for several common neoplasms. [40]
  • The 2009 prostate-cancer review reported that foods containing lycopene, selenium, pulses, soy foods, and high plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were described as protective in the cited literature, and that excess consumption of foods or supplements containing calcium was a probable cause of prostate cancer while beta-carotene was unlikely to have a substantial effect on risk. [42]
  • In a breast-cancer survivorship intervention, the parent trial reported weight loss and metabolic improvements with a Mediterranean diet, with or without naltrexone/bupropion, and no clear superiority of the combined intervention. [41]
  • In a randomized trial secondary analysis from PREDIMED, the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil was associated with a lower breast cancer incidence than the control diet. [45]
  • In women with breast cancer in a 12-month lifestyle program that included a traditional Mediterranean diet and exercise, quality-of-life scores improved over time in several domains. [44]
  • In a randomized clinical trial in colorectal cancer cachexia, the Mediterranean diet group had higher weight, lean body mass, fat mass, muscle strength, and improved inflammatory markers than the control group, and the trial evaluated muscle health, nutritional status, inflammatory markers, quality of life, and serum proteins. [43]
  • In a colorectal cancer review, the Mediterranean diet was reported as being associated with reduced colorectal cancer incidence. [49]
  • In an endometrial cancer review, Mediterranean and plant-forward dietary patterns were reported to attenuate insulin/IGF-1 activity, reduce systemic inflammation, improve estrogen metabolism, and enrich phytochemicals with detoxifying and epigenetic effects. [50]
  • In a breast cancer review, the Mediterranean diet was described as showing potential to reduce weight, improve metabolic health, modulate the gut microbiome, and positively influence inflammatory and hormonal signaling. [51]
  • In a cancer and depression review, lifestyle modifications including the Mediterranean diet were listed among integrated strategies described as promising for breaking the depression-cancer cycle and improving outcomes. [53]
  • In a cohort of postmenopausal women, higher adherence to the alternate Mediterranean diet was associated with lower chronic liver disease mortality, but it was not reported as significantly associated with liver cancer incidence. [56]
  • In breast cancer survivors, a lifestyle intervention that included Mediterranean diet recommendations was studied together with aerobic exercise, but the source does not isolate the effect of the diet alone on IGF-1 system markers. [57]
  • A review states that polyphenol-rich diets such as the Mediterranean diet have been reported to reduce cancer risk and support treatment outcomes, but this is presented as a review conclusion rather than a single trial result. [54]
  • A review of Mediterranean olive and fig extracts reports that a supplemented Mediterranean diet with extra-virgin olive oil showed a superior preventive effect for breast cancer in postmenopausal women compared with a low-fat control group, and that Mediterranean-diet ingredients such as olive compounds and fig extracts were studied for antiproliferative or anticancer activity in breast cancer cell models. [55]
  • In an Iranian case-control study, higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower odds of breast cancer. [59]
  • In a case-control study of multiple myeloma, the highest healthy lifestyle score tertile, which included Mediterranean diet score, was associated with lower odds of multiple myeloma compared with the lowest tertile. [60]
  • In a cohort of men with prostate cancer, greater post-diagnosis adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower all-cause mortality, but there was no association with prostate cancer-specific survival. [61]
  • In adult survivors of childhood cancer, greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet score was associated with lower odds of being in the high deficit accumulation index group, a proxy measure of premature aging, with the association reported in women but not in men after multivariable adjustment. [62]
  • In cancer survivors from the UK Biobank, higher adherence to the alternate Mediterranean diet was associated with lower incident cardiovascular disease risk. [63]
  • In a cancer-survivor mortality analysis, replacing the original dietary component of the Life's Simple 7 metric with the Mediterranean diet score was associated with lower hazards of cardiovascular, cancer, and non-cardiovascular/non-cancer mortality. [64]
  • The 2025 National Guidelines on the Mediterranean Diet state that oncological evidence has linked Mediterranean diet adherence to lower incidence of several cancer types and improved survival outcomes. [88]
  • In a review of prostate-cancer survivors with prior androgen-deprivation therapy exposure, the Mediterranean diet was studied as a diet score in relation to gut microbiome diversity and composition, and the review reports a significant interaction between Mediterranean diet adherence and exercise intervention for alpha diversity in the prostate-cancer survivor cohort. [66]
  • A review of dementia-related literature states that Mediterranean-diet adherence has been associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, stroke, and overall mortality in large randomized trials, and reports lower stroke risk in PREDIMED and CORDIOPREV and in meta-analyses of observational studies. [89]
  • The same review reports that Mediterranean-diet adherence was associated with lower ischemic stroke risk and lower hemorrhagic stroke risk in a meta-analysis. [89]
  • In a focus-group study of men with localized prostate cancer, most participants were broadly familiar with a Mediterranean-style diet but many lacked knowledge of its specific components; at the end, many asked for more instruction and said a nutritionist "would be essential". [65]
  • A cross-sectional study of adults reported that higher Mediterranean-diet adherence was associated with being married, following a special diet, and higher perceived food literacy. [90]
  • In the meta-analysis, higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced overall mortality in subgroup analyses for head and neck, ovarian, prostate, breast, and gastric cancers, and the meta-analysis reported moderate-certainty evidence for improved disease-free survival in breast cancer patients with higher Mediterranean diet adherence. [68]
  • A review of colorectal polyp-to-carcinoma studies reported that Mediterranean diet scores were associated with a reduced risk of polyp occurrence. [69]
  • In one Israeli case-control study summarized in the review, higher consumption of Mediterranean diet components was associated with 8% lower odds of advanced adenomas. [69]
  • The same review reported dose-responsive protection for advanced and serrated adenomas in relation to Mediterranean diet adherence, with no significant association for non-advanced adenomas. [69]
  • A large-scale study summarized in the review found that the Mediterranean diet was negatively associated with both adenoma and advanced adenoma formation. [69]
  • The review also reported that participants following official dietary guidelines or the DASH diet had a 20% to 30% lower incidence of colorectal adenomas. [69]
  • For adenoma recurrence, the review summarized one multicentre cohort study reporting a lower recurrence estimate overall; the sex-stratified results shown in the table were not statistically significant for women or men. [69]
  • In a 2025 review of gynecological cancer risk factors, adherence to a Mediterranean diet was described as having protective effects for ovarian cancer risk, and plant-based diets were described as protective for corpus uteri cancer. [71]
  • The same review listed high animal fat and low fiber intake as risk factors for corpus uteri cancer. [71]
  • A 2026 review of hematologic malignancies stated that Mediterranean diet interventions decreased serum C-reactive protein, IL-6, and endothelial and monocyte adhesion molecules compared with a low-fat diet in the PREDIMED trial, and that a randomized trial found reductions in monocyte CD49d and CD40 after Mediterranean diet intervention. [70]
  • A 2026 review reported that extra virgin olive oil lignans showed T-cell immune anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo in a mouse triple-negative breast cancer model, with reduced lung metastasis and improved overall survival. [72]
  • A 2025 narrative review states that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced breast cancer risk, improved quality of life, and lower mortality in breast cancer patients. [75]
  • A 2025 review on Mediterranean diet guidelines states that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been linked to lower incidence of various cancers and to reduced all-cause mortality and lower incidence of chronic conditions including various cancers. [74]
  • A 2025 hepatocellular carcinoma review states that nutritional intervention promoting healthy dietary habits is presented as a long-term strategy to reduce hepatocellular carcinoma risk, and that greater intake of vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole-grain products could alleviate the protumorigenic hepatic microenvironment. [77]
Proposed mechanismsProposed mechanisms for the Mediterranean diet in cancer research commonly involve anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, along with changes in metabolism, immune signaling, oxidative stress, and the gut microbiome. Several sources also describe specific food components such as olive oil polyphenols, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and other plant compounds as contributors to these pathways.51 points
  • The EASO position statement says obesity-related cancer mechanisms involve dysfunctional adipose tissue, hypoxia, proinflammatory cytokines, altered immune-cell balance, inflammasome activation, adipokines, insulin-like growth factor signaling, aromatase-related estrogen production, and microbiota dysregulation. [1]
  • The colorectal-cancer survivorship meta-analysis says the Mediterranean diet is rich in polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber, which are associated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and may influence immune and metabolic pathways involved in cancer progression. [5]
  • The colorectal-cancer survivorship meta-analysis says proposed mechanisms for fatigue include hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and altered neurotransmitter activity, but it also says direct interventional evidence in colorectal cancer survivors is limited. [5]
  • The meta-analysis attributes the Mediterranean diet’s protective effects to dietary fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds, and discusses polyphenols, fibers, omega-3 fatty acids, mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial DNA damage as part of its proposed biological explanation. [80]
  • The olive-oil review described extra virgin olive oil as the essential lipid component of the Mediterranean diet and discussed phenolic compounds such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and secoiridoids. [91]
  • The olive-oil review stated that phenolic compounds in olive oil were linked to antioxidant and endothelial-function findings in the included cardiovascular studies, not cancer outcomes. [91]
  • One source attributes proposed Mediterranean-diet mechanisms to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, direct inhibition of cancer cells, activation of anticancer mechanisms, mitigation of oxidative stress, and reduced exposure to potentially carcinogenic substances. [7]
  • A 2025 meta-analysis of Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil reported lower serum inflammatory markers and improved endothelial function compared with a low-fat diet in adults. [92]
  • The review states that the Mediterranean diet has the potential to improve clinical and supportive care outcomes, and that evidence for cardiovascular and inflammatory markers was limited. [11]
  • The 2023 umbrella review describes the Mediterranean diet as a plant-based pattern centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seafood, lean poultry, and unsaturated fats from extra virgin olive oil. [12]
  • One gastric cancer meta-analysis states that the Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamins C and E, polyphenols, and folate, which the authors link to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and says these effects may inhibit multiple cancer-related biological pathways. [18]
  • The gastric cancer meta-analysis also notes that some studies had contradictory hypotheses about the role of the Mediterranean diet in gastric cancer development, and that the relationship between Mediterranean diet adherence and gastric cancer risk was still unclear before its analysis. [18]
  • The breast cancer survivorship review states that the Mediterranean diet could influence breast cancer risk and survival through anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant properties, and hormone-receptor interactions. [22]
  • The lung cancer meta-analysis describes the Mediterranean diet as a pattern with high intake of cereals, vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts; moderate intake of poultry, fish, eggs, fresh seafood, dairy products, and wine; low intake of red meat, processed meat, and sugary foods; and use of vegetable oils such as olive oil instead of animal fats. [23]
  • The inflammation-marker review links the Mediterranean diet with changes in interleukins, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. [83]
  • The NAFLD-to-HCC review states that dietary inflammatory potential may be relevant to progression from NAFLD to HCC, and that Mediterranean-diet patterns were associated with lower risk of both diseases. [28]
  • The cancer-survivorship review states that dietary-pattern research is intended to capture combined and interactive effects of foods rather than single nutrients. [27]
  • One 2021 review states that the Mediterranean diet was associated with a gut microbiota profile that differed from Western diet, paleolithic diet, healthy controls, and at-risk groups in the included studies, with higher relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria and lower Fusobacteria in Mediterranean diet groups compared with several comparison groups. [31]
  • The same review reports higher Adlercreutzia and lower Bifidobacterium in colorectal cancer groups compared with Mediterranean diet groups in the included datasets, and says these findings suggest differences in microbiota composition but do not establish causation. [31]
  • One review stated that the Mediterranean diet is low in saturated fats and animal proteins and rich in antioxidants, fibers, monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids, and another 2020 review stated that benefits may be explained by its high intake of antioxidants, fibers, monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols, and probiotics. [93]
  • A 2018 systematic review reported that cereals, legumes, vegetables, fish, and wine may favorably modulate platelet-activating factor actions and metabolism. [94]
  • The 2020 upper gastrointestinal cancer meta-analysis noted that differences in study design, region, population, diet scoring, and tumor site may account for inconsistent findings. [37]
  • The transcriptomics review states that olive oil phenolic compounds and other Mediterranean diet components were associated with changes in gene expression related to inflammation, oxidative damage, and metabolic pathways, and that olive oil consumption was associated with gene-expression changes in pathways related to cancer, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and DNA damage in a small postprandial study. [95]
  • In PBMC studies summarized in the transcriptomics review, olive oil phenolic compounds were reported to repress genes involved in NF-kappaB, AP-1, cytokine, MAPK, and arachidonic acid pathways, producing a less inflammatory gene-expression profile. [95]
  • The transcriptomics review reports that Mediterranean diet interventions changed expression of genes and pathways related to atherosclerosis and hypertension, and these changes were often associated with improved systemic markers for oxidation and inflammation. [95]
  • The colorectal cancer systematic review states that olive oil polyphenols, red wine resveratrol, and tomato lycopene showed in vitro characteristics that interfere with molecular cancer pathways. [96]
  • The 2009 prostate-cancer review states that the Mediterranean diet is abundant in foods that may protect against prostate cancer and is associated with longevity and reduced cardiovascular and cancer mortality. [42]
  • The 2026 breast-cancer survivorship review states that the Mediterranean diet has anti-inflammatory effects, reduces oxidative stress, and inhibits the expression of carcinogenic growth factors, and that polyamines are involved in cell growth, cell differentiation, gene regulation, metabolic regulation, and energy homeostasis, while spermidine has been linked to mitochondrial function, autophagy, and insulin sensitivity. [41]
  • The 2026 DIANA-5 secondary analysis reported that most of the intervention's effects on glycemia, insulin, HOMA index, total cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome were mediated by recommended-food score together with waist circumference or fat-mass/fat-free-mass ratio. [97]
  • The colorectal cancer cachexia trial review states that nutrients in the Mediterranean diet may reduce proteolysis and lipolysis in muscle tissue by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades, and that systemic inflammation is important in cancer cachexia with IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP increased in cachexia compared with non-cachectic patients. [43]
  • The colorectal cancer review states that the Mediterranean diet's reported associations are linked to dietary fibers, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds that may enhance gut motility, support a healthy microbiome, and reduce oxidative DNA damage. [49]
  • The endometrial cancer review states that Mediterranean and plant-forward dietary patterns may act through reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling, reduced systemic inflammation, improved estrogen metabolism, and phytochemical effects on detoxification and epigenetic regulation. [50]
  • The breast cancer review states that the Mediterranean diet may influence weight, metabolic health, the gut microbiome, and inflammatory and hormonal signaling in obesity-related breast cancer contexts. [51]
  • The sources propose that polyphenols in Mediterranean-diet foods may act through oxidative stress, inflammation, cell signaling, apoptosis, and epigenetic pathways, and one review links Mediterranean-diet ingredients to apoptosis and reduced cancer cell viability in laboratory models. [54][55]
  • A survivorship review proposes the IGF-1 signaling pathway as one possible mechanism connecting lifestyle interventions, including Mediterranean-diet recommendations, with cancer-related biology. [57]
  • The microbiota-focused breast cancer source states that gut microbiota can influence inflammation, immune responses, and tumorigenesis, and that dietary fibers are broken down into short-chain fatty acids. [58]
  • One source states that Mediterranean diet intervention studies were associated with reductions in hs-CRP, increases in microbiome diversity, and improvements in metabolic markers. [98]
  • One source states that the Mediterranean diet generally improves tryptophan bioavailability, enhances serotonin synthesis, and limits excessive kynurenine activation through anti-inflammatory and microbiota-mediated mechanisms, and also states that diet is a key regulator of tryptophan metabolism with implications for cancer progression. [99]
  • The Moli-sani cancer-survivor analysis reported that inflammation, heart rate, and serum vitamin D accounted for over half of the associations between the Life's Simple 7 metric and mortality. [64]
  • The childhood cancer survivor study did not test a biological mechanism for the Mediterranean diet association and described the finding as an association with a proxy measure of premature aging. [62]
  • One review states that the Mediterranean diet’s anti-inflammatory mechanisms are linked to monounsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, and that these components are associated with improved mitochondrial function, reduced oxidative stress, improved endothelial function, and changes in gene expression related to lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. [89]
  • The review also states that the Mediterranean diet and its constituents reduce oxidative stress and are linked to improved cognitive outcomes, and that extra-virgin olive oil is described as enhancing mitochondrial health, increasing ATP generation, and improving cognitive scores in rat models. [89]
  • A cancer-survivor study reported that inflammation markers and resting heart rate attenuated the association between ultra-processed food intake and all-cause mortality by about 40%, and that part of the association between ultra-processed food intake and mortality was explained by elevated inflammation markers and resting heart rate. [100]
  • The prostate cancer intervention paper frames the Mediterranean diet as a heart-healthy, plant-forward eating pattern and reports tailoring it to cultural food preferences and practical barriers. [67]
  • One review proposed that Mediterranean diet benefits in hematologic malignancies may involve reduced CRP and IL-6, lower monocyte activation, support of butyrate-producing taxa, and cardiovascular risk reduction. [70]
  • A 2026 review of extra virgin olive oil reported that the compound (+)-matairesinol promoted T-cell immune anti-tumor activity through the JAK3-STAT1 signal and upregulated granzyme B and interferon gamma, and that proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses with blocking rescue experiments supported JAK3-STAT1 signaling as the main mechanism. [72]
  • A 2026 review described Mediterranean diet adherence as positively associated with microbiota awareness and probiotic consumption in a Turkish adult population. [101]
  • The breast cancer review states that the Mediterranean diet may act through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, gene regulation, and hormonal and intestinal microbiota changes. [75]
  • The hepatocellular carcinoma review states that Western dietary patterns may promote liver carcinogenesis through low-grade chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity, and that vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains could contribute fiber, polyphenols, and low-glycemic carbohydrates. [77]
  • The Mediterranean diet guideline-development review states that the diet is associated with a lower incidence of cancers and is discussed as a model of healthy eating with multiple chronic-disease associations. [74]
  • The Mediterranean plant-products review states that olive oil polyphenols, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and related compounds can scavenge reactive oxygen species and are described as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting inflammation in cancer models, and that several Mediterranean food compounds are described as modulating oxidative stress, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, DNA repair, cell-cycle regulation, inflammatory signaling, and multidrug resistance. [78]
Practical considerationsPractical guidance in the literature generally frames the Mediterranean diet as a pattern centered on plant foods, olive oil, fish, whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, with lower red and processed meat. In cancer care, the sources emphasize individualized counseling, adherence monitoring, and the absence of cancer-specific prescriptions for treatment phases such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy.53 points
  • The MASLD guideline advises a Mediterranean diet for all MASLD patients and sets a target of 7% to 10% weight loss for those with excess weight. [3]
  • The colorectal-cancer survivorship review says the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society suggest maintaining a healthy body weight and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, such as the Mediterranean diet. [5]
  • The colorectal-cancer survivorship review says there are no evidence-based nutritional guidelines specifically aimed at reducing fatigue or recurrence risk in colorectal cancer survivors. [5]
  • Pattern-based dietary guidelines may be more practical for individuals to follow than isolated nutrient or food-group recommendations, and dietary patterns are combinations of foods, drinks, and nutrients and the frequency with which they are habitually consumed. [6]
  • The gastric cancer review described the Mediterranean diet as one of the a priori dietary indices used to quantify dietary quality based on dietary guidelines or recommendations. [102]
  • The olive-oil review described olive cultivation and oil extraction as historically central to the Mediterranean diet in the Mediterranean area. [91]
  • The breast cancer survivorship umbrella review reported that dietetic-led interventions with at least three consultations over 12 weeks were associated with better weight and diet-quality outcomes. [8]
  • The same survivorship review reported that Mediterranean-diet adherence studies in breast cancer included randomized trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional analyses. [8]
  • The head and neck cancer meta-analysis used Mediterranean-diet adherence scores such as the MDS, aMED, MEDAS, MDP, and MAI, and one study used a non-standardized olive-oil and butter score. [7]
  • The 2024 intervention review says Mediterranean-style interventions in adults with cancer were delivered through dietitian consultations, monthly group education, phone follow-up, or individualized counseling, and some interventions specified energy targets, macronutrient targets, or food-group targets such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish, whole grains, and olive oil. [11]
  • The breast cancer survivorship review included randomised controlled trials and observational studies (cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control) in female breast-cancer survivors. [22]
  • The lung cancer meta-analysis included cohort and case-control studies that used Mediterranean diet scores such as aMED, MDS, modified MDS, and Polish-aMED. [23]
  • The early-onset colorectal review included studies of early-onset colorectal adenomas and early-onset colorectal cancer, and it mentioned alternative Mediterranean diet among the dietary approaches summarized. [25]
  • The sources describe Mediterranean-diet studies using food-frequency questionnaires, dietary questionnaires, or pattern scores such as the Trichopoulou Mediterranean Diet Score. [26][27]
  • The cancer-survivorship review notes that existing nutrition guidelines for survivors tended to emphasize fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lower fat, red meat, and alcohol, rather than Mediterranean-diet-specific guidance. [27]
  • The CINV review states that CINV-specific nutrition education and support with a personalized meal plan from a dietician was associated with reduced nausea and overall CINV severity. [29]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet as emphasizing fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, cereals or whole grains, fish, and olive oil, with lower red and processed meat. [30][31][32]
  • The 2021 review of controlled trials reports that many interventions combined Mediterranean diet advice with provision of Mediterranean foods, while some used advice alone, and intervention durations ranged from 10 days to 7 years in the included controlled trials. [32]
  • The sources describe the Mediterranean diet using patterns that include olive oil, vegetables, fruits, fish, legumes, cereals, nuts, and moderate or low amounts of red meat. [93][84]
  • Some studies in the reviews used extra virgin olive oil or nuts as part of the Mediterranean diet intervention. [93]
  • The 2020 review noted that general adoption of a Mediterranean diet is concordant with current policies promoting healthy and sustainable nutrition worldwide. [36]
  • The sources describe Mediterranean-diet adherence scores that reward higher intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals, fish, nuts, and unsaturated fats, and lower intake of red and processed meats and dairy products. [39][41]
  • In the breast-cancer survivorship study, participants were given individualized guidance, standardized meal examples, daily meal-image reporting, self-reported adherence scores, and 24-hour dietary recalls to monitor Mediterranean-diet adherence. [41]
  • In the breast-cancer survivorship study, the Mediterranean-diet intervention targeted energy intake of less than 1500 kcal per day. [41]
  • In the colorectal cancer cachexia trial, the Mediterranean diet intervention was individualized, provided with extra-virgin olive oil, and delivered for 8 weeks with dietitian visits and food-record monitoring. [43]
  • The trial estimated energy needs for the Mediterranean diet group starting at 25 kcal/kg/day and increasing to 35 kcal/kg/day within 2 weeks, with a macronutrient plan of 35% fat, 20% protein, and 45% carbohydrate. [43]
  • The review on cancer and Mediterranean dietary traditions states that the traditional Mediterranean diet is characterized by high consumption of plant foods, relatively low consumption of red meat, and high consumption of olive oil. [46]
  • The colorectal cancer review describes the Mediterranean diet as rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and olive oil. [49]
  • The prostate cancer systematic review reported that diet interventions studied during androgen deprivation therapy were generally short-term and often combined with exercise, but it did not isolate Mediterranean diet-specific protocols in the excerpt provided. [52]
  • The breast cancer review states that long-term studies are required to confirm effects on survival and recurrence. [51]
  • One breast cancer survivorship study used a 14-item Mediterranean diet adherence questionnaire, with higher adherence defined as at least 8 points. [57]
  • The survivorship intervention source says participants received structured counseling on physical activity and the Mediterranean diet after surgery and completion of primary treatments. [57]
  • The observational breast cancer source assessed Mediterranean diet adherence at diagnosis and again after three months of chemotherapy. [58]
  • In the breast cancer study, Mediterranean diet adherence was measured with a 9-item score, with alcohol omitted because it was not assessed. [59]
  • In the multiple myeloma study, the Mediterranean Diet Score was energy-adjusted using the residual method before inclusion in the healthy lifestyle score. [60]
  • In the prostate cancer study, Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires repeated every four years. [61]
  • In the childhood cancer survivor study, the alternate Mediterranean diet score was based on vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, whole grains, fish, the ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acids, red and processed meats, and alcohol. [62]
  • The 2025 National Guidelines on the Mediterranean Diet describe the diet as a scientifically supported dietary intervention with broad preventive and therapeutic benefits. [88]
  • In one prostate-cancer survivor study, Mediterranean-diet adherence was measured with the 13-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). [66]
  • A review of lung-cancer supportive care states that thresholds for dietary recommendations and nutritional risk were derived from MEDAS, the Mediterranean Diet Serving Score, and an ESPEN practical guideline. [103]
  • The focus-group study reports barriers to Mediterranean-diet adherence including lack of familiarity with Mediterranean foods and resistance to changing eating habits. [65]
  • The same focus-group study reports that family members, spouses, and adult children could act as support for dietary change or as barriers through temptation and discouragement. [65]
  • The same focus-group study reports that doctors were viewed as the final authority on nutrition information. [65]
  • A cross-sectional study reported that higher nutrition knowledge and receiving nutrition information from health professionals or dietitians were associated with higher health literacy, and regular exercise and higher perceived health status were associated with higher perceived food literacy. [90]
  • In the prostate cancer paper, the Mediterranean diet intervention was adapted using the Intervention Mapping Adaptation framework and included tailored dietary recommendations, food provision strategies, and educational materials. [67]
  • The prostate cancer intervention was designed for medically underserved Black and Hispanic men receiving care at a county safety-net hospital. [67]
  • The intervention paper states that the adapted Mediterranean diet program was ready for pilot testing. [67]
  • One review described the Mediterranean diet as a sustained dietary pattern rather than a short cyclical intervention. [70]
  • The same review listed extra-virgin olive oil as the principal fat and included fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish, nuts, moderate red wine, and minimal red and processed meat in its description of the pattern. [70]
  • The review noted that trials typically used 12 to 15 weeks to demonstrate adherence and biomarker change. [70]
  • The Turkish cross-sectional study reported that 45% of participants had high Mediterranean diet adherence. [101]
  • Sources describe the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern centered on plant-based foods, with components such as whole grains, fish, olive oil, yogurt, and cheese. [73][74][75][76]
  • The guideline-development review states that the Mediterranean diet has been incorporated into national dietary guidelines in several countries around the Mediterranean basin. [74]
Safety & interactionsThe sources generally do not report specific safety concerns or treatment interactions for the Mediterranean diet itself in cancer populations. Several reviews instead note that safety outcomes were not reported, were secondary or feasibility outcomes, or were not cancer-specific in the excerpt provided.18 points
  • The chemotherapy-toxicity review did not identify a single dietary intervention, including the Mediterranean diet, as clearly superior. [81]
  • In the breast cancer survivorship umbrella review, structured weight-management programs did not show an increase in adverse events. [8]
  • The MASLD guideline recommends complete alcohol abstinence for patients with significant fibrosis and smoking cessation regardless of fibrosis stage. [3]
  • The lung cancer meta-analysis notes that some studies included alcohol in the Mediterranean diet score, while others did not. [23]
  • The CINV review reported a statistically significant positive association between moderate alcohol intake and nausea, vomiting, or overall CINV, as well as nausea severity, and noted that most included studies had high or neutral risk of bias. [29]
  • The bladder-cancer meta-analysis included studies that adjusted for factors such as age, sex, smoking, total energy intake, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and family history of bladder cancer. [26]
  • The breast-cancer survivorship study excluded participants with uncontrolled hypertension, hepatic or renal disease, significant cardiovascular disease or stroke, seizure history, serious psychiatric illness, alcohol abuse or dependence, current smoking, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and certain medication exposures including monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid-containing medications, other naltrexone- or bupropion-containing medications, and tamoxifen. [41]
  • The colorectal cancer cachexia trial excluded patients with serious renal or hepatic disorders and those with allergy history to Mediterranean diet components such as nuts or olive oil. [43]
  • The colorectal cancer cachexia trial report notes that some participants had differences in supplement use between groups at baseline. [43]
  • The childhood cancer survivor study adjusted for chest radiation, cranial radiation, other radiation, platinum-based chemotherapy, and other chemotherapy when analyzing Mediterranean diet adherence and deficit accumulation index. [62]
  • In the prostate-cancer survivor microbiome study, participants with current chemotherapy or antibiotic use within 30 days were excluded. [66]
  • A review of prostate-cancer survivors notes that androgen-deprivation therapy can increase cardiovascular risk, diabetes risk, osteoporosis risk, cognitive injury, and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. [66]
  • The lung-cancer mHealth study reports that its dietary recommendations were aligned with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, the Mediterranean Diet Serving Score, and an ESPEN practical guideline for clinical nutrition in cancer. [103]
  • The prostate-cancer focus-group study reports that some participants had comorbidities such as diabetes and high cholesterol when discussing diet change. [65]
  • The alcohol review notes that wine is highlighted as a component of the Mediterranean diet, while also stating that alcohol use carries cancer-related concerns and that breast cancer has been associated with moderate alcohol consumption, although the evidence is not conclusive. [104]
  • The alcohol review emphasizes moderation and individualized advice because the risk-benefit balance of alcohol depends on personal characteristics and health status. [104]
  • The plant-products review notes that herbal compounds from Mediterranean foods may have potential herb–drug interactions, and that the role of antioxidants in established tumors is complex and context-dependent. [78]
  • The rheumatoid arthritis review states that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with many health consequences, including cirrhosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. [76]
What we don't know yetEvidence on the Mediterranean diet in cancer is still incomplete, with many findings based on observational studies, small or heterogeneous samples, and limited intervention data. Across cancer types, reviews repeatedly note inconsistent results, underexplored outcomes, and the need for better-designed studies.7 points
  • Evidence on the Mediterranean diet in cancer is still incomplete, with many findings based on observational studies, small or heterogeneous samples, and limited intervention data. [54][56][57][58][55]
  • Across cancer types, reviews repeatedly note inconsistent results, underexplored outcomes, and the need for better-designed studies. [1][5][81][102][8][11][16][13][18][21][22][25][27][29][26][83][34][36][37][84][40][47][48][41][97][51][52][43][61][66][100][65][90][68][67][69][72][70][77][78][76]
  • The 2021 updated review reports that its evidence synthesis was qualitative for the EPIC data because participant overlap prevented a quantitative meta-analysis. [34]
  • The 2021 updated systematic review reports that certainty of evidence was assessed with NutriGrade for cohort studies and randomized trials. [30]
  • The 2008 meta-analysis states that research interest has focused on adherence to the whole Mediterranean diet rather than individual components because people do not eat isolated nutrients and because interactions among components may matter. [39]
  • The 2004 analysis states that the main components responsible for the favorable effect of a diet rich in vegetables and fruit remain undefined. [40]
  • The 2004 analysis states that the role of whole-grain foods may be favorable for some cancers, but that the issue is still open to discussion. [40]

Sources

Every statement above is drawn from these reviewed sources. This page reports what they describe. Sources last checked June 9, 2026.

  1. GuidelineEuropean Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) Position Statement on Medical Nutrition Therapy for the Management of Individuals with Overweight or Obesity and Cancer · 2025
  2. Meta-analysisMediterranean diet and rheumatoid arthritis: A nine-year cohort study and systematic review with meta-analysis · 2025
  3. GuidelineUpdated recommendations for the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by the Latin American working group · 2025
  4. Meta-analysisEfficacy of Mediterranean diet for the primary prevention of oncological diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis featured in the Italian National Guidelines "La Dieta Mediterranea" · 2026
  5. Meta-analysisPost-Diagnosis Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Cancer Recurrence and Fatigue Outcomes in Cancer Survivors, with Emphasis on Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2026
  6. Systematic reviewDietary patterns and colorectal cancer risk: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review · 2025
  7. Meta-analysisAdherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies · 2025
  8. Systematic reviewDietary and Nutrition Interventions for Breast Cancer Survivors: An Umbrella Review · 2025
  9. Systematic reviewAn umbrella review of the association between dietary factors and hepatocellular carcinoma risk · 2025
  10. Meta-analysisImpact of Lifestyle Modifications on Cancer Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2025
  11. Systematic reviewMediterranean-style dietary interventions in adults with cancer: a systematic review of the methodological approaches, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy · 2024
  12. Systematic reviewScientific evidence supporting the newly developed one-health labeling tool "Med-Index": an umbrella systematic review on health benefits of mediterranean diet principles and adherence in a planeterranean perspective · 2023
  13. Meta-analysisAssociation between olive oil consumption and all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality in adult subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis · 2024
  14. Meta-analysisMediterranean diet and colorectal adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies · 2024
  15. Meta-analysisDietary patterns and risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis · 2024
  16. Systematic reviewMediterranean diet and risk of breast cancer: An umbrella review · 2023
  17. Systematic reviewAdherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of gastric cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis · 2023
  18. Meta-analysisAdherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2023
  19. Meta-analysisAdherence to Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2023
  20. Meta-analysisMediterranean diet in the management and prevention of obesity · 2023
  21. Systematic reviewDietary Factors and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Prospective Observational Studies · 2023
  22. Meta-analysisThe Role of the Mediterranean Diet in Breast Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies and Randomised Controlled Trials · 2023
  23. Systematic reviewMediterranean Diet Patterns in Relation to Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis · 2022
  24. Meta-analysisDietary Patterns and Risk of Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies · 2023
  25. Systematic reviewDiet as a Risk Factor for Early-Onset Colorectal Adenoma and Carcinoma: A Systematic Review · 2022
  26. Meta-analysisDietary patterns and risk of bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis · 2022
  27. Meta-analysisThe Role of Diet in Prognosis among Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dietary Patterns and Diet Interventions · 2022
  28. Systematic reviewThe role of dietary factors in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to hepatocellular carcinoma progression: A systematic review · 2022
  29. Systematic reviewDietary strategies for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review · 2022
  30. Meta-analysisAn updated systematic review and meta-analysis on adherence to mediterranean diet and risk of cancer · 2021
  31. Meta-analysisMediterranean Diet to Prevent the Development of Colon Diseases: A Meta-Analysis of Gut Microbiota Studies · 2021
  32. Meta-analysisThe Effect of the Mediterranean Diet on Metabolic Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials in Adults · 2020
  33. Meta-analysisAssociation between Mediterranean diet adherence and colorectal cancer: a dose-response meta-analysis · 2020
  34. Systematic reviewEvidence Update on the Relationship between Diet and the Most Common Cancers from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study: A Systematic Review · 2021
  35. Systematic reviewMediterranean diet and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies and randomised trials · 2018
  36. Systematic reviewMediterranean diet and health: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and intervention trials · 2020
  37. Meta-analysisDiet Quality and Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers Risk: A Meta-Analysis and Critical Assessment of Evidence Quality · 2020
  38. Meta-analysisAdherence to Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2017
  39. Meta-analysisAdherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis · 2008
  40. Meta-analysisMediterranean diet and cancer · 2004
  41. Randomized trialCirculating Polyamines and Metabolic Changes Following a Mediterranean Diet with or Without Naltrexone/Bupropion in Breast Cancer Survivors: An Exploratory Secondary Analysis · 2026
  42. Systematic reviewCan the Mediterranean diet prevent prostate cancer? · 2009
  43. Randomized trialThe Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Body Composition, Inflammatory Factors, and Nutritional Status in Patients with Cachexia Induced by Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial · 2023
  44. Randomized trialQuality of Life in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer after a 12-Month Treatment of Lifestyle Modifications · 2020
  45. Randomized trialMediterranean Diet and Invasive Breast Cancer Risk Among Women at High Cardiovascular Risk in the PREDIMED Trial: A Randomized Clinical Trial · 2015
  46. Clinical trialCancer and Mediterranean dietary traditions · 2000
  47. Clinical trialMediterranean diet, antioxidants and cancer: the need for randomized trials · 2004
  48. Clinical trialMediterranean diet and cancer · 1989
  49. Review articleDiet-Driven Epigenetic Alterations in Colorectal Cancer: From DNA Methylation and microRNA Expression to Liquid Biopsy Readouts · 2026
  50. Review articleBiochemical pathways linking adiposity, diet, and endometrial carcinogenesis · 2026
  51. Review articleObesity-focused dietary interventions in breast cancer care: A comprehensive review of medical nutrition therapy approaches and efficacy in prevention and treatment · 2026
  52. Review articleDiet, nutrition, and hormone therapy for prostate cancer: a systematic review with implications for future interventions · 2026
  53. Review articleBidirectional relationship between cancer and depression: From shared mechanisms to integrated therapeutic strategies · 2026
  54. Review articleDietary polyphenols as anticancer agents: A review of recent advances and mechanisms · 2026
  55. Review articleUnveiling the antioxidant and anticancer potential of local mediterranean olive and fig extracts against breast cancer · 2026
  56. Review articleDietary Patterns and the Risk of Liver Cancer and Chronic Liver Disease Mortality · 2026
  57. Review articleLifestyle intervention based on aerobic exercise and Mediterranean diet modulates IGF-1 and its binding proteins in breast cancer survivors · 2026
  58. Review articleAssessing mental health, cognitive function and quality of life of breast cancer patients: exploring associations with gut microbiota in an observational and preliminary study · 2026
  59. Review articleThe Association Between Adherence to Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND Diets and the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Iranian Women · 2026
  60. Review articleAssociation between healthy lifestyle score and risk of multiple myeloma: a case-control study · 2026
  61. Review articleHealthy dietary patterns and survival among men with prostate cancer · 2026
  62. Review articleAdherence to healthy dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study · 2026
  63. Review articleAssociation of Dietary Patterns and Genetic Risk With Cardiovascular Disease in UK Biobank Cancer Survivors · 2026
  64. Review articleLife's Simple 7 score and cardiovascular health in cancer survivors: the Moli-sani study · 2026
  65. Review articleDetermining Barriers to Dietary Change Among Medically Underserved Men With Prostate Cancer · 2026
  66. Review articleDiet-Microbiome Relationships in Prostate-Cancer Survivors with Prior Androgen Deprivation-Therapy Exposure and Previous Exercise Intervention Enrollment · 2026
  67. Review articleImplementing intervention mapping to tailor the evidence-based PREDIMED intervention for medically underserved prostate cancer patients · 2026
  68. Review articleMediterranean diet in cancer patients' survival: A systematic review and meta-analysis for tertiary prevention featured in the Italian National Guidelines "La Dieta Mediterranea" · 2026
  69. Review articleA review of dietary patterns and the colorectal polyp-to-carcinoma sequence: polyp occurrence, polyp recurrence, and colorectal cancer · 2026
  70. Review articleLeveraging Dietary Interventions to Benefit Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Clonal Hematopoiesis · 2026
  71. Review articleEnvironment, lifestyle, and cancer in women · 2025
  72. Review article(+)-Matairesinol, Derived From Olive Oil, Enhanced T-Cell Anti-Tumor Immune via JAK3-STAT1 Signal and Synergized With Anti-PD-1 Efficacy · 2026
  73. Review articleMediterranean diet and Cantonese cuisine for human health: report from a Sino-Italian bilateral meeting · 2025
  74. Review articleToward strong, transparent and science-based dietary guidance: lessons learned from the Mediterranean Diet guideline development · 2025
  75. Review articleMediterranean diet and breast cancer: A narrative review · 2025
  76. Review articleA Brief Review of the Mediterranean Diet's Role in Mediating Inflammation and in Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis · 2025
  77. Review articleDiet Habits and Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Potential Implication for Clinical Practice · 2025
  78. Review articleA Narrative Review on the Antitumoral Effects of Selected Mediterranean Plant Products from Southern Italy · 2025
  79. Systematic reviewAssociations Between Dietary Factors and Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review of Evidence from the MENA Region · 2025
  80. Meta-analysisAdherence to the Mediterranean diet and its protective effects against colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of 26 studies with 2,217,404 participants · 2025
  81. Meta-analysisDiet as an Adjunct Therapy in Reducing Chemotherapy Toxicities and Improving Patients Quality of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · 2025
  82. Systematic reviewDietary Patterns, Dietary Interventions, and Mammographic Breast Density: A Systematic Literature Review · 2022
  83. Systematic reviewEffect of anti-inflammatory diets on inflammation markers in adult human populations: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials · 2022
  84. Meta-analysisMediterranean dietary pattern and the risk of prostate cancer: A meta-analysis · 2019
  85. Systematic reviewIndex-based dietary patterns and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review · 2015
  86. Meta-analysisMediterranean diet and health status: an updated meta-analysis and a proposal for a literature-based adherence score · 2014
  87. Meta-analysisMediterranean diet and mortality in the elderly: a prospective cohort study and a meta-analysis · 2018
  88. Review article2025 National Guidelines on the Mediterranean Diet: Executive Summary of a Joint Report by Italian Scientific Societies and the National Institute of Health Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines · 2026
  89. Review articleBeneficial Effects of Olive Oil and the Mediterranean Diet on Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia: A Review · 2026
  90. Review articleThe relationship between health literacy, nutrition literacy, and beliefs and behaviors related to cancer prevention · 2026
  91. Systematic reviewExploring the Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Cardiovascular Health Enhancement and Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review · 2025
  92. Meta-analysisEffect of the Mediterranean Diet Supplemented With Olive Oil Versus the Low-Fat Diet on Serum Inflammatory and Endothelial Indexes Among Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Controlled Trials · 2025
  93. Systematic reviewMediterranean Diet and its Benefits on Health and Mental Health: A Literature Review · 2020
  94. Systematic reviewMediterranean diet and platelet-activating factor; a systematic review · 2018
  95. Systematic reviewTranscriptomics and the Mediterranean Diet: A Systematic Review · 2017
  96. Systematic reviewMediterranean diet and colorectal cancer: A systematic review · 2017
  97. Randomized trialDiet, body composition and metabolic and hormonal profile in women at high risk of breast cancer recurrence: A secondary mediation analysis of the DIANA-5 trial · 2026
  98. Review articleA Conceptual Digital Health Framework for Longevity Optimization: Inflammation-Centered Approach Integrating Microbiome and Lifestyle Data-A Review and Proposed Platform · 2026
  99. Review articleDietary patterns and tryptophan metabolism: mechanistic insights and health implications · 2026
  100. Review articleUltra-processed Food and Mortality among Long-Term Cancer Survivors from the Moli-sani Study: Prospective Findings and Analysis of Biological Pathways · 2026
  101. Review articleMicrobiota awareness is related to Mediterranean diet adherence and probiotic consumption in a Turkish adult population: A cross-sectional study · 2026
  102. Meta-analysisAssociation between priori and posteriori dietary patterns and gastric cancer risk: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies · 2025
  103. Review articleEvaluation of the ALIBIRD mHealth Platform for Care of Patients With Lung Cancer: Prospective Pilot Study · 2026
  104. Review articleAlcohol: a cardiovascular friend or foe? · 2026

Recipes for the Mediterranean diet

Simple meal ideas that fit this pattern. These are food suggestions only, not a treatment or a recommendation to change your diet without your care team.

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