title: A dietary pattern rich in olive oil and raw vegetables is associated with lower mortality in Italian elderly subjects.
abstract: Dietary habits play an important role in healthy ageing. We have investigated the role of dietary patterns on overall mortality in a large series of Italian elderly, recruited in five EPIC cohorts in Northern (Varese and Turin), Central (Florence) and Southern Italy (Naples and Ragusa).A total of 5611 subjects (72.6 % women) aged 60 years or older, enrolled in 1993-1998, were prospectively followed (median 6.2 years), with 152 deaths (98 women). Four major dietary patterns were identified by using an exploratory factor analysis based on dietary information collected at enrollment. The associations between these dietary patterns and overall mortality were evaluated by Cox models adjusted for potential confounders. The 'Olive Oil & Salad' pattern, characterised by a high consumption of olive oil, raw vegetables, soups and poultry, emerged as being inversely associated with overall mortality in both crude and adjusted models. After adjustment for gender, age and caloric intake, overall mortality was reduced by approximately 50 % in the highest quartile and a significant trend emerged (P = 0.008). This association persisted after adjusting for several additional confounders (hazard ratio (HR) 0.50; 95 % CI 0.29, 0.86; P for trend = 0.02). An association of the 'Pasta & Meat' pattern (characterised by pasta, tomato sauce, red meat, processed meat, added animal fat, white bread and wine) with increased overall mortality was also suggested, but only for the highest quartile in a multivariate model. Dietary recommendations aimed at the Italian elderly population should support a dietary pattern characterised by a high consumption of olive oil, raw vegetables and poultry.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, CSPO-Scientific Institute of Tuscany, Via Cosimo il Vecchio 2, 50139, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceroti
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krogh
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacerdote
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saieva
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvini
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sieri
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrino
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panico
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tumino
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giurdanella
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamia
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trichopoulou
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riboli
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011200:Poultry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils