Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and its association with gastric cancer - health benefits from a Planeterranean perspective

Sep 21, 2026

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The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is examined for its protective association with gastric cancer (GC), focusing on molecular and biological pathways. Antioxidant-rich and polyphenol-rich components are linked to modulation of gene expression, inhibition of tumor growth, and regulation of apoptosis. Evidence also highlights reduced inflammatory markers such as CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6, alongside anti-angiogenic effects from components including olive oil, red wine, fish, and tomatoes. The review further addresses intestinal microbiota changes that support immune homeostasis and lower systemic inflammation, while noting challenges in adherence scoring and the need for further gender- and region-specific studies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Mediterranean Diet and mechanisms relevant to gastric cancer

Anti-inflammatory pathways

Anti-angiogenic properties

Molecular mechanisms and gene regulation

Intestinal microbiota and immune homeostasis

Limitations and future research directions

Conclusion

Reytor-González etal. Journal of Translational Medicine (2024) 22:483 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05176-w](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05176-w) Journal of Translational Medicine REVIEW Open Access Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and its association with gastric cancer: health benefits from a Planeterranean perspective Claudia Reytor-González 1, Ana Karina Zambrano2, Martha Montalvan3,4, Evelyn Frias-Toral5, Alison Simancas-Racines6 and Daniel Simancas-Racines 1* Abstract The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has garnered increasing attention for its potential protective effects against gastric cancer (GC) . The MD’s rich content of antioxidants, polyphenol s, and other bioactive compounds contributes to its ability to modulate gene expression, inhibit tumor growth, and regulate apoptosis. Studies have shown significant reductions in inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) among individuals adhering to the MD, suggesting its pivotal role in mitigating chronic inflammation-associated with cancer development. Furthermore, the MD’s anti-angiogenic properties, particularly in components like olive oil, red wine, fish, and tomatoes, offer promising avenues for reducing GC risk by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Additionally, the MD’s influence on intestinal microbiota composition underscores its potential in maintaining immune homeostasis and reducing systemic inflammation, factors crucial in GC prevention. Despite challenges such as variability in dietary adherence scoring systems and the need for further gender and geographical-specific studies, evidence supports the MD as a cost-effective and holistic approach to GC prevention. Emphasizing the role of nutrition in public health is a promising strategy with broad implications for global health and cancer prevention initiatives. Therefore, this review explores the multifaceted impacts of the MD on GC prevention, delving into its anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and molecular mechanisms. Keywords Gastric cancer, Mediterranean diet, Nutrition, Molecular mechanism, Planeterranean perspective *Correspondence: Daniel Simancas-Racines [dsimancas@ute.edu.ec](dsimancas@ute.edu.ec) 1Centro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, 170129 Quito, Ecuador 2Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Mariana de Jesús Ave, no number, 170129 Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador 3Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, . Pdte. Carlos Julio ArosemenaTola, 090615 Guayaquil, Ecuador 4School of Medicine, Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayas, Guayaquil, Ecuador 5Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Espíritu Santo, 0901952 Samborondón, Ecuador 6Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, 050108 Latacunga, Ecuador © The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creativecommons.org/l](http://creativecommons.org/l)icenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedica

FAQs

How does the Mediterranean Diet relate to gastric cancer prevention?

The Mediterranean Diet is associated with gastric cancer risk reduction through anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and molecular mechanisms that may affect tumor development and survival.

Which dietary components are highlighted for anti-angiogenic effects?

Olive oil, red wine, fish, and tomatoes are emphasized as components with anti-angiogenic properties that may help reduce gastric cancer risk by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.

What challenges limit current evidence on diet adherence?

Variability in dietary adherence scoring systems is noted, and further studies tailored to specific genders and geographic populations are required to strengthen conclusions.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Eliana