Can what you eat keep you on your feet? A review links the Mediterranean diet with fewer falls

Single nutrients such as vitamin D and protein have long been studied for fall prevention. A systematic review published in Nutrition Reviews on 1 October 2026, by researchers at the University of Oviedo in Spain, looked at whole dietary patterns instead. From 56,462 articles screened, 11 studies met their criteria, with 55,144 older adults from 5 countries, most of them living in the community rather than in care homes.

The studies looked at the Mediterranean diet (6 studies), the traditional Japanese diet (2), plant-based diets (3) and pro-inflammatory eating patterns (4). The main finding was that people who followed a Mediterranean diet more closely had a lower risk of falls as they aged.

The authors are frank about the limits: only 1 study was rated strong, 5 moderate and 5 weak, and none was a population-based controlled trial. People who eat a Mediterranean diet may also be more active or healthier in other ways. Still, they suggest a Mediterranean diet, or a similar pattern that fits local food culture, could help with the growing number of falls in older adults, alongside proven measures such as strength and balance exercise.