Comparison of mediterranean diet adherence between individuals with and without cancer

Comparison of Mediterranean Diet Adherence Between Individuals With and Without Cancer Objective: Our study included newly diagnosed cancer patients ands healthy individuals with no prior cancer diagnosis who visited the outpatient clinics of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, agreed to participate, and provided informed consent. The objective was to determine the relationship between Mediterranean diet adherence and cancer risk and to identify factors influencing this association. Method: Our study, a descriptive and cross-sectional design, was conducted through face-to-face surveys. The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale was administered in face-to-face interviews to participants who agreed to join the study, aiming to assess their sociodemographic characteristics and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and JAMOVI 2.3 software packages. Statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: Our study included a total of 200 adult participants, consisting of 100 cancer patients and 100 healthy control group members. Of the patient group, 59% were women and 41% were men, while in the control group, 57% were women and 43% were men. The mean age of the case group was 62.5±11.8 years, while the mean age of the control group was 60.8±8.1 years. In the patient group, 48% had a family history of cancer, while 49% of the control group reported a similar family history. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p=0.887). The three most common cancer diagnoses in the patient group were breast cancer (14%), lung cancer (12%), and colon cancer (11%). In the patient group, 12% were current smokers, while 59% had never smoked. In the healthy control group, 17% were current smokers, while 60% had never smoked. In the patient group, 10% consumed alcohol, whereas 90% did not. In the healthy control group, 12% consumed alcohol, and 88% did not. While 35% of the patients reported not exercising regularly, this figure was 14% for the control group. Additionally, 50% of the patients reported attending regular health check-ups, compared to 65% of the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of regular health check-ups (p=0.032). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between participants' BMI and MEDAS scores (p=0.003). The control group's Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale score was significantly higher than that of the patient group (p<0.001). Conclusion and Recommendations: Cancer is one of the most significant public health issues worldwide due to its prevalence and the challenges involved in its treatment. Therefore, identifying the risk factors that contribute to cancer development and conducting studies aimed at reducing its incidence are of great importance. Healthy dietary models also play a crucial role in cancer prevention in this context. Our study found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet has a significant protective effect against cancer. For the prevention of cancer and promotion of a healthier lifestyle, it is recommended that nutritional counseling be provided to increase public awareness and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Key words: Cancer, The Mediterranean diet, life style