A:  The traditional diet consumed by people living around the Mediterranean Sea is high in fish, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, lean meats, whole-grains and red wine. Scientists have been interested in the diet for more than 40 years because of the low heart disease rates and increased longevity in people living in these countries. Francesco Sofi and colleagues from the University in Florence in Italy pooled the results of 12 studies on the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and longevity, using a statistical technique called meta-analysis. They found that people following the Mediterranean diet suffered 9 percent fewer deaths from all causes (i.e., deaths per year), 9 percent fewer deaths from heart disease and 6 percent fewer deaths from cancer. The diet also reduced the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease by 13 percent. The analysis included 1.5 million people who were studied for three to 18 years. Large-scale adaption of the Mediterranean diet in the United States could have a significant impact on public health. Unfortunately, more people in Mediterranean countries are eating like Americans than vice versa.

(British Medical Journal, in press; published online September 2008)

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