Scientists found a link between Mediterranean diet blood markers and longer survival

Since the Mediterranean diet has nothing objective in it, ask your competent? doctor EXACTLY WHAT PART CREATES THESE BENEFITS! An EXACT DIET PROTOCOL!

 Scientists found a link between Mediterranean diet blood markers and longer survival

In a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers evaluated whether a 67-metabolite plasma signature of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence is associated with long-term all-cause and cause-specific mortality and whether the association can be replicated across independent cohorts.

Background

Can a blood sample provide a more objective picture of dietary habits and their relationship with long-term survival? The MedDiet includes olive oil, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fish. This dietary pattern has been linked to lower risks of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Yet dietary adherence has traditionally been assessed using self-reported food frequency questionnaires (FFQs), which may misclassify actual intake. A previously developed plasma metabolomic signature comprising 67 metabolites was associated with lower future cardiovascular risk. Further research is needed to establish whether this biological signature predicts long-term mortality across diverse populations.

About the study

The researchers analyzed data from the Spanish multicenter PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) randomized nutritional intervention trial, conducted from 2003 to 2011. The trial enrolled adults at high cardiovascular risk who did not have cardiovascular disease at baseline. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: one received the MedDiet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil, another followed the MedDiet supplemented with mixed nuts, and a third followed a low-fat diet. Of the 7,447 volunteers, 1,880 had baseline plasma metabolomic data, and 1,648 also had measurements after 1 year, with approximately 13.2 years of follow-up.

The researchers applied a previously developed and validated signature of 67 metabolites, selected from 302 analyzed compounds, to assess dietary adherence. Plasma samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, including hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) methods. Mortality was assessed using medical records and death registries. The main outcome was all-cause mortality, whereas cardiovascular and cancer mortality were the secondary outcomes.

The findings were independently replicated in 12,704 participants from the Nurses’ Health Studies I and II (NHS I and NHS II) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS), with an average follow-up of 25 years. The authors used Cox regression models to estimate mortality associations after adjusting for relevant sociodemographic and clinical factors. Sensitivity analyses examined whether the findings remained consistent under different assumptions.

Study results

In the PREDIMED analysis, participants had a mean age of 67.1 years, and 57.5% were women. Those with higher baseline metabolomic signature scores generally demonstrated better adherence to the MedDiet and were less likely to smoke or have type 2 diabetes.