Scientists found a smarter Mediterranean diet that slashes diabetes risk by 31%

A Mediterranean diet is already famous for its heart and metabolic benefits. But a major Spanish clinical trial suggests it may work even better against type 2 diabetes when paired with three realistic upgrades: eating fewer calories, moving more, and getting professional support for weight loss. The PREDIMED-Plus trial found that this more structured version of Mediterranean living reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 31%.

The project is the largest nutrition trial conducted in Europe and involved the University of Navarra along with more than 200 researchers from 22 other Spanish universities, hospitals, and research centers. The work was carried out in more than 100 primary care centers within Spain's National Health System. PREDIMED-Plus began in 2013 after the University of Navarra received an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) worth more than €2 million. Between 2014 and 2016, additional institutions joined, bringing total funding to more than 15 million euros. Most of that support came from the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and the Center for Biomedical Research Network through its areas of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) and Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM ). The results, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, were based on 4,746 adults between ages 55 and 75. All had overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome, but none had diabetes or cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Researchers followed participants for six years to see whether a more intensive Mediterranean based lifestyle plan could offer stronger protection against type 2 diabetes than the traditional Mediterranean diet alone. One group followed a calorie reduced Mediterranean diet (about 600 kcal fewer per day), added moderate physical activity (brisk walking, strength and balance training), and received professional guidance. The comparison group followed a traditional Mediterranean diet without calorie restriction or exercise advice. The difference between the two approaches was striking. Participants in the intervention group were 31% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those in the comparison group.

Key points

• The project is the largest nutrition trial conducted in Europe and involved the University of Navarra along with more than 200 researchers from 22 other Spanish universities, hospitals, and researc…
• The work was carried out in more than 100 primary care centers within Spain's National Health System.
• PREDIMED-Plus began in 2013 after the University of Navarra received an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) worth more than €2 million.
• Between 2014 and 2016, additional institutions joined, bringing total funding to more than 15 million euros.
• Most of that support came from the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and the Center for Biomedical Research Network through its areas of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Epid…