Diet quality and physical or comprehensive frailty among older adults

Differences in the Values and Related Factors of Eating a Balanced Meal among the Younger Generation in Japan

This study examined young Japanese adults' values regarding the consumption of balanced meals consisting of staples, main dishes, and side dishes and how these values relate to demographics, socioeconomic status, nutrition knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors, and diet-related quality of life. Data were obtained from the "Survey on Dietary Habits of the Younger Generation" (2000 responses, ages 18-39), of which 1888 valid responses were analyzed. The principal component analysis identified three value patterns: PC1-valuable yet burdensome; PC2-environment-reliant, weak initiative; and PC3-low value due to hassle. Both PC1 and PC3 were associated with prioritizing prices in food choices and knowledge of a balanced meal. However, PC1 participants valued balanced meals and possessed meal preparation skills, whereas PC3 participants valued balanced meals less and had negative attitudes toward eating them. PC1 was positively associated with the frequency of eating balanced meals while PC3 was negatively associated. PC2 individuals had positive attitudes toward eating balanced meals but were less concerned about nutritional balance when choosing foods themselves. This study highlights the importance of adopting an approach that aligns with the value patterns of the target population.

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Diet Quality Trajectory Interact to Determine Frailty Incidence among Middle-Aged Urban Adults

BACKGROUND

Elevated plasma growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and poor diet quality may be associated with increased frailty incidence, although their interactive associations have not been assessed in urban middle-aged adults.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to examine GDF15 and its interactive association with diet quality in relation to frailty incidence among a sample of middle-aged urban adults.

METHODS

The relationship between GDF15 and diet quality trajectories in relation to incident frailty was examined in a longitudinal study of participants in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (2004-2017). Serum GDF15 concentration and frailty incidence were primary exposure and outcome, respectively. Group-based trajectory models were used to assess diet quality trajectories (≤3 visits/participant, N = 945, N' = 2247 observations) using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 version (HEI-2010), Dietary Inflammatory Index, and mean adequacy ratio (MAR). Cox proportional hazards models were used, testing interactive associations of GDF15 and diet quality trajectories with frail/prefrail incidence (N = 400 frailty-free at first visit, N' = 604 observations, n = 168 incident frail/prefrail).

RESULTS

Both elevated GDF15 and lower diet quality trajectories were associated with a lower probability of remaining nonfrail (≤13 y follow-up). Among females, the "high diet quality" HEI-2010 trajectory had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.15 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04, 0.54; P = 0.004; fully adjusted model] when compared with the "low diet quality" trajectory group. Among males only, there was an antagonistic interaction between lower HEI-2010 trajectory and elevated GDF15. Specifically, the HR for GDF15-frailty in the higher diet quality trajectory group (high/medium combined), and among males, was 2.69 (95% CI: 1.06, 6.62; P = 0.032), whereas among the lower diet quality trajectory group, the HR was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.80; P = 0.86). Elevated GDF15 was independently associated with frailty among African American adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Pending replication, we found an antagonistic interaction between GDF15 and HEI-2010 trajectory in relation to frailty incidence among males.

Frailty modifies the association of body mass index with mortality among older adults: Kyoto-Kameoka study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The differences in the association of body mass index (BMI) with mortality between older adults with and without frailty remain unclear. This study investigated this association in community-dwelling older adults with and without frailty.

METHODS

This prospective study included 10,912 adults aged ≥65 years who provided valid responses to a baseline mail survey questionnaire in the Kyoto-Kameoka Study in Japan. The BMI was calculated based on self-reported height and body weight and classified into four categories: <18.5, 18.5-21.4, 21.5-24.9, and ≥25.0 kg/m2. Frailty was evaluated using the validated Kihon Checklist and defined as a score of 7 or higher out of a possible 25 points. Mortality data were collected from 30 July 2011 to 30 November 2016. Hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality were calculated using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

During the 5.3 year median follow-up period (54,084 person-years), 1352 deaths were recorded. After adjusting for confounders, including lifestyle and medical history, compared with participants with a BMI of 21.5-24.9 kg/m2, those in the lower BMI category had a higher mortality HR, while those with a higher BMI displayed an inverse association with mortality (<18.5 kg/m2: HR: 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58-2.17; 18.5-21.4 kg/m2: HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.21-1.58; and ≥25.0 kg/m2: HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67-0.96). In a model stratified by frailty status, the BMI range with the lowest HR for mortality was 23.0-24.0 kg/m2 in non-frail older adults; however, in frail older adults, a higher BMI was inversely associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between BMI and mortality varies between individuals with and without frailty, with those experiencing frailty potentially benefiting from a higher BMI compared to those without frailty. This study suggests that frailty should be assessed when considering the optimal BMI for the lowest mortality risk among older adults.

Composition of healthy diets for older persons

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study aims to review recent evidence (2022-2023) on the role of diet in promoting healthy aging in older adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

Current evidence of diet and healthy aging is limited to epidemiological studies. A healthy diet is beneficial for individual domains of intrinsic capacity, that is, cognition, locomotion, vitality, psychological, and/or sensory functions, with sex-specific differences reported. Only a few studies used the multidimensional concept of intrinsic capacity as an outcome. This review supports that a healthy diet for older adults consists of plenty of plant-based foods, adequate protein-rich foods, and healthy fats. Next to quantity, improving the quality and variety within food groups play a role in optimizing health. Data on the associations between adherence to national food-based dietary guidelines and intrinsic capacity are scarce.

SUMMARY

A healthy diet, centered on plant-based foods, adequate protein-rich foods and healthy fats, potentially promotes healthy aging. Future studies may evaluate the association between adherence to healthy dietary patterns (particularly national food-based dietary guidelines) and the multidimensional concept of intrinsic capacity, with consideration of sex-specific differences. Clinical trials are warranted to inform the causal effects of diet and outcomes related to intrinsic capacity.

Pro-Inflammatory Diets Are Associated with Frailty in an Urban Middle-Aged African American and White Cohort

Diet quality is a modifiable risk factor for frailty, but research on the association of frailty with dietary inflammatory potential is limited. The objective was to determine associations between diet quality assessed by the dietary inflammatory index (DII) with frailty status over time. Participants with both dietary and frailty data from the longitudinal Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study were used (n = 2901, 43.5% male, 43.8% African American, 48.5 y mean baseline age, with a mean 8.7 y of follow-up). Group-based trajectory modeling identified two frailty (remaining non-frail or being pre-frail/frail over time) and three diet quality trajectory groups (high or medium pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory potentials). Multiple logistic regression found both medium pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory DII trajectory groups, compared to the high pro-inflammatory group, were positively associated with being non-frail over time for the overall sample, both sexes and races. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test revealed anti-inflammatory DII scores were associated with lower risk for being pre-frail or frail. No longitudinal relationship existed between frailty status at baseline and annualized DII change, a check on reverse causality. This study contributes to our current knowledge providing longitudinal evidence of the link between anti-inflammatory DII score with lower frailty risk.

Diet Is Associated with Frailty in Lung Cancer: A Possible Role of Gut Microbiota

This study investigated the associations between diet and frailty in lung cancer patients and the potential role of the gut microbiota involved. We assessed dietary intake and frailty status in 231 lung cancer patients by 3-day, 24-h dietary recalls and Fried frailty criteria, respectively, and collected 50 fecal samples for next-generation sequencing. A total of 75 (32.5%) patients were frail, which might be related to significantly lower intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, niacin, leucine, some minerals, and a poorer dietary quality as indicated by the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (p < 0.05). Among these, carbohydrate (OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.96-0.99; p = 0.010), calcium (OR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.99-1.00; p = 0.025), and selenium (OR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.06; p = 0.022) were all significantly associated with frailty. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the mean risk of frailty was 0.94 times lower (95% CI 0.90-0.99; p = 0.009) among participants with higher CHEI scores. Additionally, the frail patients demonstrated significantly lower gut microbiota β diversity (p = 0.001) and higher relative abundance of Actinobacteriota (p = 0.033). Frailty in lung cancer patients might be associated with insufficient nutrients intake and a poor dietary quality through gut microbiota regulation.

Development of the Scores for Traditional and Modified Japanese Diets

Increasing attention is being paid to the role of diet quality in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. We developed a scoring system for the traditional Japanese diet and its modified version considering the dietary culture in Japan, dietary guidelines for the Japanese, and updated evidence for disease prevention. The traditional Japanese diet comprises white rice, miso soup, soybean products, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, fish and shellfish, high-sodium foods, and green tea. In the modified Japanese diet, unprocessed or minimally refined rice and raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, and fruits were additionally considered, while salty food was reverse-scored. The cutoff for the intake frequency of each food/food group was determined with reference to a health survey of >12,000 workers. Among the participants in the validation study, we confirmed the nutritional gradient with increasing scores in the expected direction. The scores were closely correlated with the respondents' backgrounds, including occupational factors. This simple scoring system can be used for diet quality assessments and epidemiological research.

Dose-Response Relationships between Diet Quality and Mortality among Frail and Non-Frail Older Adults: A Population-Based Kyoto-Kameoka Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Although better diet quality is inversely associated with mortality risk, the association between diet quality and mortality remains unclear in frail and non-frail older adults. Thus, we aimed to examine this association in older Japanese adults.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We used the data of 8,051 Japanese older adults aged ≥65 years in the Kyoto-Kameoka study.

MESUREMENTS

Dietary intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was evaluated by calculating the adherence scores to the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (range, 0 [worst] to 80 [best]), which were stratified into quartiles. Frailty status was assessed using the validated self-administered Kihon Checklist (KCL) and the Fried phenotype (FP) model. Survival data were collected between February 15, 2012 and November 30, 2016. Statistical analysis was performed using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis and the spline model.

RESULTS

During the median 4.75-year follow-up (36,552 person-years), we recorded 661 deaths. After adjusting for confounders, compared with the bottom adherence score quartile, the top quartile was associated with lower hazard ratio (HR) of mortality in frailty (HR, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-1.00) and non-frailty, as defined by the KCL (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-1.01). In the spline model, regardless of frailty status defined by the KCL and FP model, adherence score showed a strongly dose-dependent inverse association with mortality up to approximately 55 points; however, no significant differences were observed thereafter. This association was similar to the results obtained in individuals with physical, cognitive, and depression as domains of KCL in the spline model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate an L-shaped association between diet quality and mortality in both frail and non-frail individuals. This study may provide important knowledge for improving poor diet quality in older individuals with frailty or domains of frailty.

Multidimensional Frailty and Lifestyles of Community-Dwelling Older Portuguese Adults

(1) Background: Lifestyles are referred to as conditioning factors for the frailty of older adults. However, there are few studies that explore its association. The objective of the present study is to analyze the association between sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors of older adults people with multidimensional frailty. (2) Methods: Descriptive and correlational study carried out with older adults people registered in a Health Unit in Portugal. Data were collected through a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and application of the Individual Lifestyle Profile and Tilburg Frailty Index to assess the lifestyles and multidimensional frailty of older adults, respectively. This last instrument, being of a multidimensional nature, assesses not only physical, but also psychological and social frailty, with a cut-off point of 6. (3) Results: Of the 300 older adults who participated, most were female (60.3%) and had a mean age of 81.34 ± 6.75 years. Moreover, 60.3% of the sample were frail older adults. Gender, marital status, number of household members, number of chronic diseases, number of daily medications, self-perception of health status and lifestyle and use of a walking device were associated with multidimensional frailty (p ≤ 0.001). Healthy eating habits, physical activity, relational behaviour, preventive behaviour, and stress management were significantly associated with lower physical, psychological, and social frailty (p ≤ 0.001). (4) Conclusions: When community health workers are aware of multidimensional frailty predictors and their components, they can intervene early and, consequently, delay the onset and progression of frailty in older adults.

Combined use of two frailty tools in predicting mortality in older adults

We aimed to verify the combined use of two frailty tools in predicting mortality in older adults. We used the data of 10,276 Japanese older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) who provided valid responses to two frailty assessment tools in a mail survey in Japan’s Kyoto‒Kameoka Prospective cohort study. Frailty status was categorized into four groups depending on the validated frailty screening index and Kihon Checklist, respectively: Non-frailty (n = 5960), Physical frailty (n = 223), Comprehensive frailty (n = 2211), and Combination (n = 1882) groups. Mortality data were collected between July 30, 2011, and November 30, 2016. We assessed the relationship between frailty status and all-cause mortality risk using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. During a median follow-up of 5.3 years, we recorded 1257 deaths. After adjusting for confounders, the Combination group had the highest mortality risk compared with the other groups [Non-frailty: reference; Physical frailty: hazards ratio [HR], 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58 to 1.70); Comprehensive frailty: 1.91 (1.63 to 2.23); Combination: 2.85 (2.44 to 3.22)]. People who are positive for frailty in both instruments have a higher risk of death than those who are positive to one model.