A recent large-scale prospective study explored the potential protective role of the Mediterranean diet (MD) in preventing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic autoimmune disease known for its complexity and high mortality. Drawing on data from 203,119 participants in the UK Biobank who were free of SLE at baseline, researchers assessed dietary patterns using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Over a median follow-up period of 10.6 years, 127 participants were diagnosed with SLE. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the relationship between MD adherence and SLE risk, while mediation analysis investigated the potential biological pathways involved.
The study found that while moderate adherence to the MD did not significantly impact SLE risk, high adherence was associated with a 39% reduction in risk. Further analysis suggested that this protective effect may be partially mediated by improvements in liver and kidney function biomarkers, with mediation proportions ranging from 0.32% to 4.61%. These findings provide important evidence supporting the role of dietary patterns, specifically the Mediterranean diet, in reducing the risk of autoimmune disease. The results also underscore the need for additional research into diet-based preventive strategies for SLE and potentially other inflammatory conditions.
Reference: Song ZC, Hu JJ, Xia XY, et al. Potential protective role of high mediterranean diet adherence on systemic lupus erythematosus: mediation by liver-kidney biomarkers in the UK biobank cohort. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025 Jun 24:keaf348. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaf348. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40581782.
