Older people who avoid a particular food group are less likely to reach 100, the study finds

The researchers tracked more than 5,000 adults aged 80 or older who were enrolled in the Chinese Longitudinal Survey of Healthy Longevity.

Between 1998 and 2018, data showed that those who did not eat meat were less likely to reach their 100th birthday than those who did. Animal products regularly.

The results appear to contradict previous studies that have linked vegetarianism to… Vegetarian diets To reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

The researchers noted that most of the evidence supporting the benefits of plant-based diets comes from studies tracking younger populations.

The findings contradict previous research that has praised plant-based diets for their positive impact on heart health. (Istock)

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests a loss of muscle mass and bone density with age, shifts that can increase the risk of malnutrition and frailty in older people.

As people enter their 80s and 90s,… Nutritional priority Physical activity often shifts from preventing long-term chronic diseases to maintaining daily physical function, experts say.

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“The headline ‘Vegans over 80 less likely to reach 100’ seems surprising, because it contradicts decades of data linking plant-based diets to a lower risk of chronic disease early in life,” Erin Palinsky-Wade, a registered dietitian in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital.

“However, once you see that this research is limited to adults over 80 who are also underweight — and that this association disappears with consumption of eggs, dairy products, and fish — the results become less surprising.”

Experts say that while diets early in life tend to emphasize avoiding long-term disease, aging requires nutrients and weight maintenance. (Istock)

For those over 80, restricting animal proteins may be less likely Promote longevityaccording to Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study.

Eliminating all animal proteins — especially in populations that may already experience reduced hunger cues — can make it more difficult to meet adequate protein needs, which may increase the risk of hunger. Nutrient deficiencyThe nutritionist said.

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In addition to an increased tendency to be underweight, older adults also face a greater risk of bone fractures due to lower calcium and protein intake.

Potential limitations

The researchers noted that the lower rate of vegetarians who reached the age of 100 was observed only in participants who were identified as underweight. No such association was found in people who maintained a healthy weight.

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Because being underweight is already associated with an increased risk of frailty and death, the researchers noted that body weight may partially explain the results, making it difficult to determine whether diet itself played a direct role.

Those who ate products of animal origin other than meat were more likely to live to be 100 years old. (Istock)

In addition, lifespan shortening was not found in people who continued to eat non-meat animal products, such as fish, dairy products, and eggs.

The researchers noted that older people who follow more flexible diets are as likely to live to 100 as those who eat meat, because these foods may provide the nutrients needed to maintain healthy muscles and bones.

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“This is an observational study, so it only shows associations, and does not prove that avoiding meat directly reduces the odds of reaching age 100,” Palinsky-Wade added.

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The researchers suggested that including small amounts of animal-source foods could help older people maintain essential nutrients and avoid the muscle loss often seen in those who adhere strictly to plants.

Eliminating all animal proteins — especially in populations that may already experience reduced hunger signals — can make it more difficult to meet adequate protein needs, which may increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies. (Istock)

Palinski-Wade offered some guidance for those looking to improve nutrition later in life.

“For adults in their 80s and beyond, especially anyone losing weight or muscle, the priority should be to maintain a healthy weight and meet protein and micronutrient needs – even if that means adding or increasing well-planned fortified fish, eggs, dairy or plant based foods. Proteins and nutritional supplements“.

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Strict vegetarian or very low-protein vegetarian patterns at this age should be carefully monitored by a dietitian or doctor, with attention paid to vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium and total protein, according to Palinski-Wade.

“Younger and Healthier adults “We can still use vegetarian or vegan patterns with confidence to reduce the risk of chronic disease in the long term,” she added.

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