title: Allostatic load differs by sex and diet, but not age in older Japanese from the Goto Islands.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifelong exposure to stressors promotes physiological dysregulation and produces an allostatic load (AL). In European-derived samples, AL associates significantly with sex, age and health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess associations of AL with age, sex, socio-demographic differences and self-reports of diet and ability to complete activities of daily living in older Japanese residing in rural Nagasaki Prefecture.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, 96 older residents of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, were assessed for components of AL. They also self-reported their age, principal life-long occupational activity, educational attainments, marital status, dietary choices and abilities to complete daily living activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average age was 67.9 years (range = 55-89; SD = 8.65). Among these 48 men and 48 women, AL was not related significantly to age, although women showed lower AL than men. AL did not differ significantly between respondents by occupation, marital status, education or abilities to complete daily activities. Women who reported eating more green/yellow vegetables or consuming more meat had lower AL than their counterparts. Men who reported drinking more alcohol spirits had higher AL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among older Japanese residing outside a major urban area, AL varies significantly by sex, but not age, while being associated with dietary choices. Although lack of association with life ways was not expected, AL apparently assesses physiological dysregulation cross-culturally.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Community Development , Nagasaki Wesleyan University , Isahaya , Japan .
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.affiliation: b Department of Anthropology , Ohio State University , Columbus , OH , USA .
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Crews
authors.affiliation: c Department of Food and Nutrition , Osaka City University , Osaka , Japan , and.
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.affiliation: c Department of Food and Nutrition , Osaka City University , Osaka , Japan , and.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.affiliation: d School of Medicine, Nagasaki University , Nagasaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.affiliation: d School of Medicine, Nagasaki University , Nagasaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: b Department of Anthropology , Ohio State University , Columbus , OH , USA .
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leahy
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D052636:Allostasis; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D044466:Asian People; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062312:Islands; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Activities of daily living; Asian; ageing; disability; male–female mortality paradox; senescence