A dietary pattern rich in olive oil and raw vegetables is associated with lower mortality in Italian elderly subjects.
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.
Masala
Giovanna
G
Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, CSPO-Scientific Institute of Tuscany, Via Cosimo il Vecchio 2, 50139, Florence, Italy.
Ceroti
Marco
M
Pala
Valeria
V
Krogh
Vittorio
V
Vineis
Paolo
P
Sacerdote
Carlotta
C
Saieva
Calogero
C
Salvini
Simonetta
S
Sieri
Sabina
S
Berrino
Franco
F
Panico
Salvatore
S
Mattiello
Amalia
A
Tumino
Rosario
R
Giurdanella
Maria C
MC
Bamia
Christina
C
Trichopoulou
Antonia
A
Riboli
Elio
E
Palli
Domenico
D
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
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils