Mediterranean Diet Boosts Immunotherapy Response
Source: Specialty Pharmacy Continuum, December 2022
Falafel and hummus are not just delicious, they also could save your life, according to data presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2022. Results of the study (abstract 2064) from the Netherlands and United Kingdom suggest that a Mediterranean diet can improve response to immunotherapy in people with advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Researchers observed a significantly higher overall response rate to immune checkpoint blockade in patients who consumed foods high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyphenols and fiber. The Mediterranean diet was also associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS), the study authors reported.
“These nutrients have recently gained interest related to their immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities,” said lead study author Laura Bolte, BSc, a dietitian currently pursuing MD and PhD degrees at the University Medical Center Groningen, in the Netherlands. “Our study underlines the importance of dietary assessment in patients starting immune checkpoint blockade and supports a role for dietary strategies to improve treatment outcomes.”