Mediterranean Diet and Cancer: A Current Perspective
Aslı Melike Ekmekçi1
, Nazlı Çetin2, Oytun Erbaş1
1ERBAS Institute of Experimental Medicine, Illinois, USA & Gebze, Turkey
2Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Unıversity, Institute of Health Science , Ankara/ Turkey
Keywords: Antioxidants, cancer, Mediterranean diet
Abstract
Cancer covers a significant proportion of deaths worldwide. Genetic and environmental factors are involved in cancer pathophysiology. It generally shows a heterogeneous distribution over the genders. Nutritional approaches attract attention in the treatment of cancer, one of our age’s diseases. Current cancer statistics and the most common types of cancer have been specifically reviewed in the literature. Various studies in different neoplasias are needed in the future to clarify the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MD), which has been shown to be effective in cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This review explained the MD could provide preventive or protective effects against various neoplasms with bioactive compounds such as fiber, flavonoid, hydroxytyrosol, and antioxidants at different stages. The relationship between the MD, which is accepted as an ideal and healthy diet, and cancer were also discussed in the review.
Cite this article as: Ekmekçi AM, Çetin N, Erbaş O. Mediterranean Diet and Cancer: A Current Perspective. JEB Med Sci 2021;2(3):308-317.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.