Comment on a Research Study that Suggests a Mediterranean Diet May Protect Against Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

Several research studies have looked into whether a diet rich in antioxidants and other nutrients can help mitigate the health effects of exposure to pollutants in the environment. One such study from the lab of Dr. George Thurston, a professor of environmental health at New York University, was recently presented at the American Thoracic Society Conference in San Diego. Results suggested that having a dietary pattern resembling a Mediterranean diet could reduce adverse heart and lung effects caused by exposure to air pollution.
I was asked to comment on this preliminary work for the website Everyday Health. In the article, I was quoted as follows:
“Some air pollutants are thought to affect health through a mechanism called oxidative stress,” says Luz Claudio, PhD, a professor of environmental medicine and public health at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, who was not involved in the research.
“Therefore, it is possible that people who consume more antioxidants in their diet may be better protected from the effects of exposure to such air pollutants,” Dr. Claudio adds.  

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