French dietary guidelines reduce mortality risk, study finds

A recent study shows that following the 2017 French dietary guidelines can reduce the risk of early death. This is especially true for deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer. However, the study found a surprising trend regarding lung cancer: the risk actually increased for those who adhered to the guidelines very closely. The research, published in the Nutrition Journal, involved tracking the diets of 72,585 women from a large French cohort. The participants completed a food questionnaire, and their diets were assessed based on adherence to the national guidelines. The study took place over an average of 19 years, during which 6,441 deaths were recorded. Women who followed the dietary guidelines more closely consumed less alcohol and ate more nuts compared to those with lower adherence. Researchers found that higher adherence to the guidelines was linked to a lower risk of mortality from various causes. The study also noted that these benefits leveled off and sometimes reversed for lung cancer when adherence was particularly high. For general mortality and specific cancers like breast cancer, higher adherence to the guidelines showed a protective effect. In contrast, there was no clear association between red meat intake and mortality rates. These findings highlight the importance of diet for public health and suggest that improved education and access to nutritious foods are crucial for communities. The study calls for further research to understand the complexities of diet and mortality better. It emphasizes the need for policymakers to promote healthy eating through initiatives that encourage adherence to dietary guidelines.