Healthy Diet Linked to Longevity in Older Adults

Older adults who eat a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, dairy, whole grains, poultry and fish lower their risk of dying over 10 years, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

The study compared the diets of 2,500 U.S. adults aged 70 to 79 who were divided into six different groups according to how often they ate certain foods—healthy foods; high-fat dairy products; meat, fried foods and alcohol; breakfast cereal; refined grains; and sweets and desserts.

The "healthy foods" cluster was characterized by relatively higher intake of low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and lower consumption of meat, fried foods, sweets, high-calorie drinks, and added fat. The "high fat dairy products" cluster had higher intake of foods such as ice cream, cheese, and 2% and whole milk and yogurt, and lower intake of poultry, low-fat dairy products, rice and pasta.

The study evaluated participants' quality of life and nutritional status, through detailed biochemical measures, according to their dietary patterns. After controlling for gender, age, race, clinical site, education, physical activity, smoking, and total calorie intake, the "high-fat dairy products" cluster had a 40-percent higher risk of mortality than the "healthy foods" cluster. The "sweets and desserts" cluster had a 37-percnet higher risk. No significant differences in risk of mortality were seen between the "healthy foods" cluster and the "breakfast cereal" or "refined grains" clusters.

“The results of this study suggest that older adults who follow a dietary pattern consistent with current guidelines to consume relatively high amounts of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry and fish, may have a lower risk of mortality," said lead author Amy L. Anderson, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland. “Because a substantial percentage of older adults in this study followed the 'healthy foods' dietary pattern, adherence to such a diet appears a feasible and realistic recommendation for potentially improved survival and quality of life in the growing older adult population."

Sources:

* American Dietetic Association: Eating Healthier Means Living Longer