Nutr Metab (Lond). 2026 May 14. doi: 10.1186/s12986-026-01135-y. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have focused on the relationship between the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review and compile the available research and assess the possible relationship of the MIND diet score with cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), hypertension (HTN), and mortality risks.
METHODS: A comprehensive and systematic search was performed in online databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to July 2025. Hazard ratios(HRs) or odds ratios(ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were extracted from the included studies, then to estimate the pooled results, the random-effects model with inverse variance weighting method was used.
RESULTS: Twenty-three observational studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analysis. The findings found that higher adherence to the MIND diet was related to the decreased risk of cancers(RR:0.45, 95%CI:0.31-0.65;P < 0.001; I2 = 43.9%,P-heterogeneity = 0.129), all-cause(RR:0.86, 95%CI:0.81-0.92;P < 0.001; I2 = 74.0%,P-heterogeneity < 0.001) and CVDs mortality(RR:0.78, 95%CI:0.67-0.90;P = 0.001; I2 = 71.4%,P-heterogeneity = 0.002); however, there is no significant relationship between MIND diet score and risk of HTN(RR:0.88, 95%CI:0.76-1.03; P = 0. 097; I2 = 45.5%, P-heterogeneity = 0.088) and CVDs(RR:0.86, 95%CI:0.68-1.08; P = 0.200; I2 = 82.4%, P-heterogeneity < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that the greater adherence to the MIND diet may be associated with lower risk of cancer, all-cause mortality, and CVDs-mortality; however, no significant association was observed between the MIND diet and risk of HTN and CVDs. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to substantial heterogeneity, potential publication bias, a moderate risk of bias, and the observational nature of the included studies. Further research is warranted to assess the long-term effects and potential relationship of the MIND diet with risk of these chronic outcomes.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: CRD420251014343.
PMID:42135789 | DOI:10.1186/s12986-026-01135-y