Nutrition, Daily Walking and Resilience Are Associated with Physical Function in the Oldest Old Men

The effects of dietary diversity on health status among the older adults: an empirical study from China

BACKGROUND

Dietary diversity is an indicator of nutrient intake among the elderly. Previous researches have primarily examined dietary diversity and the risks with chronic and infectious disease and cognitive impairment, limited evidence shows the association between dietary diversity and the overall health status of specific populations with a heterogeneity analysis. This study aimed to probe the effects of dietary diversity on health status among Chinese older adults.

METHODS

There were 5740 sample participants aged 65 and above selected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, among which 3334 samples in 2018 wave and 2406 samples in 2011 wave. Dietary diversity was assessed by Dietary Diversity Score ranged from 0 to 9, the higher the score, the better dietary diversity. Health status was assessed into healthy, impaired and dysfunctional state by three indicators: Activities of Daily Living, Instrument Activities of Daily Living and Mini-Mental State Examination. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess the effects of dietary diversity on the health status among the elderly. Heterogeneity analysis between different groups by age was further discussed.

RESULTS

Older adults with better dietary diversity are in better health status, the mean dietary diversity score for healthy group was higher than that of impaired and dysfunctional groups (In 2018 wave, the scores were 6.54, 6.26 and 5.92, respectively; and in 2011 wave, they were 6.38, 5.93 and 5.71, respectively). Heterogeneity analysis shows that the younger groups tend to have more diversified dietary and be in better health status. Dietary diversity was more significantly associated with health status of the younger elderly (OR, 1.22, 95% CI, 1.04-1.44, p < 0.05) than the older elderly (OR, 1.01, 95% CI, 0.37-2.78, p > 0.05) in 2018 wave; and in 2011 wave, dietary diversity was more significantly related to health status among the younger elderly (OR, 1.62, 95% CI, 1.26-2.08, p < 0.001) than the older elderly (OR, 0.08, 95%CI, 0.31-1.94, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Better dietary diversity has positive effects on health status and is more significantly related to the younger elderly than the older elderly. So interventions including available dietary diversity assessment, variety of dietary assistance services in daily life, keeping nutrient digestion and absorption capacity for the venerable age might benefit to ensure the effects of dietary diversity on health status among older adults especially in maintaining intrinsic ability and physical function. In addition, healthy lifestyle should also be recommended.

Association between dietary protein intake and changes in health-related quality of life in older adults: findings from the AusDiab 12-year prospective study

Background

Adequate dietary protein intake is recommended for older adults to optimise muscle health and function, and support recovery from illness, however, its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between total protein intake and different sources of dietary protein and HRQoL in Australians aged 60 years and older over a 12-year period.

Methods

This study used data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study (AusDiab), a 12-year population-based prospective study. The sample included 752 (386 females) adults aged 60 years and older. Protein intake was estimated at baseline (1999/2000) from a 74-item Food Frequency Questionnaire, and HRQoL using the 36-item Short-form Health Survey assessed at baseline (1999/2000) and after 12 years (2011/12). The association between protein intake and change in HRQoL was evaluated using multivariate regression analysis adjusted for relevant confounders. The difference in change in HRQoL between participants with total protein intakes of < 1.0 g/kg/day, intakes of between 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day and intakes of > 1.2 g/kg/day were assessed using one-way ANCOVA.

Results

Total protein intake at baseline was not associated with 12-year changes in physical component summary (PCS) or mental component summary (MCS) scores of HRQoL. Higher animal, red meat and processed animal protein intakes were associated with deteriorations in PCS scores after adjusting for relevant confounders (β = − 0.04; 95% CI: − 0.07, −0.01 ; p = 0.009; β = − 0.05; 95% CI: − 0.08, − 0.01; p = 0.018; β = − 0.17; 95% CI: − 0.31, − 0.02; p = 0.027 respectively). Higher red meat protein intake was associated with deteriorations in MCS scores after adjusting for relevant confounders (β = − 0.04; 95% CI: − 0.08, − 0.01; p = 0.011). There was no difference in 12-year changes in PCS or MCS between participants consuming total protein of < 1.0 g/kg/day, 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day and intakes of > 1.2 g/kg/day.

Conclusion

There was no relationship between total dietary protein intake and HRQoL, but higher protein intakes from animal, red meat and processed animal sources were associated with a deterioration in HRQoL scores over 12 years. Due to the number of associations examined and high drop out of older less healthy participants, further research is required to confirm the associations detected in healthy and less healthy participants, with a view to making protein intake recommendations for older adults.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-02894-y.