Diet and overall survival in elderly people.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of a specific dietary pattern on overall survival.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Three rural Greek villages, the data from which were collected as part of an international cross cultural study of food habits in later life.


METHODS
182 elderly residents of the three villages.


METHODS
Overall mortality.


RESULTS
Diet was assessed with a validated extensive semiquantitative questionnaire on food intake. A one unit increase in diet score, devised a priori on the basis of eight component characteristics of the traditional common diet in the Mediterranean region, was associated with a significant 17% reduction in overall mortality (95% confidence interval 1% to 31%).


CONCLUSIONS
A diet meeting currently understood health criteria does predict survival among people.
Trichopoulou
A
A
National Centre for Nutrition, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
Kouris-Blazos
A
A
Wahlqvist
M L
ML
Gnardellis
C
C
Lagiou
P
P
Polychronopoulos
E
E
Vassilakou
T
T
Lipworth
L
L
Trichopoulos
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis