People who adopt a Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and fish are less likely to develop type II diabetes, according to a study by Spanish scientists, published in Diabetes Care.
The study involved 418 adults with ages between 55 and 80 years who have either followed a Mediterranean diet based mainly on olive oil, or a Mediterranean diet with emphasis on unsaturated fat, came especially from nuts, or a diet low in fat.
In the four years following the study, those who followed a Mediterranean diet - rich in vegetables, high fiber cereals, fish and unsaturated fats, particularly olive oil and nuts, and low in red meat and fat milk - presented less risk of developing diabetes.
Four years after the onset of the study, 10 to 11% of volunteers from groups that have adopted the Mediterranean diet have developed diabetes, compared to 18% in the group followed low fat diet.
After being taken into account other risk factors such as weight, smoking addiction, level of exercise, researchers found that the Mediterranean diet reduces diabetes risk by 52% compared with a low-fat diet.
Constance Brown-Riggs, spokesman for the American Dietetic Association, said that the Mediterranean diet is a healthy choice for anyone, but this does not mean that people should give up sport. She said that should be taken count, however, in the number of calories consumed.
Traditional diets from Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries provide protection against many diseases, including cancer.
Type II diabetes, the most common form of diabetes (90%), has spread rapidly in rich countries in the developing world with the spread of obesity because of the sedentary lifestyle and high sugar and fat nutrition content. Over 220 million people worldwide suffer from type II diabetes. In 2005, type II diabetes has killed over one million people, according to World Health Organization.
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