Clinical Section

Dietary Habits in Middle Age and Future Changes in Activities of Daily Living - NIPPON DATA80
Yasuyuki Nakamura^{a, b}, Atsushi Hozawa^{b, c}, Tanvir Chowdhury Turin^b, Naoyuki Takashima^b, Tomonori Okamura^d, Takehito Hayakawa^e, Yoshikuni Kita^b, Akira Okayama^f, Katsuyuki Miura^b, Hirotsugu Ueshima^b, NIPPON DATA80 Research Group

^aCardiovascular Epidemiology, Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto,
^bDepartment of Health Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu,
^cDepartment of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai,
^dDepartment of Preventive Cardiology, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka,
^eDepartment of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, and
^fJapan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Gerontology 2009;55:707-713 (DOI: 10.1159/000235906)

  Key Words

• Meat
• Fish
• Egg
• Activities of daily living
• Mortality
• Cohort study

  Abstract

Background: Almost no studies have investigated the relationship between food intake measured at middle age and future disability. Objective: To examine the association of meat, fish and egg intake with risk of subsequent mortality and/or future decline in activities of daily living (ADL) among the elderly. Methods: The cohort consisted of 2,316 Japanese individuals aged 47-60 at the baseline who were randomly selected throughout Japan and followed up for 19 years from 1980. Results: Those who ate meat at least once every 2 days were younger, there were more men, daily drinkers, professional workers and urban residents compared to those who ate meat less than once every 2 days. Over 19 years of follow-up, 75 participants became dependent due to impaired ADL. A higher intake of meat was associated with a statistically significant decrease in impaired ADL occurrence (odds ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence intervals 0.38-0.99, p = 0.04). Fish and egg intake were not associated with any difference in impaired ADL occurrence. None of the 3 foods were associated with any changes in mortality. Conclusion: A higher intake of meat may prevent impaired ADL occurrence, although this was not associated with a lower mortality.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Yasuyuki Nakamura, MD
Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Kyoto Women's University
35 Imakumano Kitahiyoshi-cho, Higashiyama-ku
Kyoto 605-8501 (Japan)
Tel./Fax +81 75 531 2162, E-Mail nakamury@kyoto-wu.ac.jp

  Article Information

Received: August 27, 2008
Accepted: November 26, 2008
Published online: August 28, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 37