Scientists from Hebrew SeniorLife and Harvard found that consuming a Mediterranean-style diet may prevent frailty.
The research is published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and was conducted by Courtney L Millar et al.
Defined as a recognizable state of increased vulnerability resulting from a decline in function across multiple physiological systems, frailty affects 10–15% of older adults and leads to other health issues.
Although the general benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet are well known, its role in the reduction of frailty in older Americans who do not normally consume such a diet was unclear.
In the study, the team tested 2,384 non-frail adults from the Framingham Offspring Study with Mediterranean-style dietary pattern score and antioxidant intakes [vitamin C, E, and total carotenoids].
They found that consuming a Mediterranean-style diet may prevent the development of frailty with aging.
Each unit’s higher score on the Mediterranean Style Dietary Pattern Score (i.e., higher adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet) reduced the odds of frailty by 3%.
The study also found whether specific antioxidants (carotenoids, vitamins E, and C) found in a Mediterranean-style diet are related to frailty.
Higher intake of carotenoids (an antioxidant commonly found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables) had the strongest association with reduced likelihood of frailty development in middle-aged and older men and women.
Each 10-mg higher total carotenoid intake reduced the odds of frailty by 16%. Vitamin E and C were not meaningfully linked to frailty prevention.
The team concluded that people may be able to prevent frailty by following the principles of the Mediterranean-style diet.
The Mediterranean-style diet encourages the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies that vitamin K may lower your heart disease risk by a third, and this diet can make your body frail.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about unhealthy diet that may cause vision loss, and results showing a low-carb diet may help reverse brain aging.
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