title: A healthy Nordic diet and physical performance in old age: findings from the longitudinal Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have shown that a number of nutrients are associated with better physical performance. However, little is still known about the role of the whole diet, particularly a healthy Nordic diet, in relation to physical performance. Therefore, we examined whether a healthy Nordic diet was associated with measures of physical performance 10 years later. We studied 1072 participants from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Participants' diet was assessed using a validated 128-item FFQ at the mean age of 61 years, and a priori-defined Nordic diet score (NDS) was calculated. The score included Nordic fruits and berries, vegetables, cereals, PUFA:SFA and trans-fatty acids ratio, low-fat milk, fish, red and processed meat, total fat and alcohol. At the mean age of 71 years, participants' physical performance was measured using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), and an overall SFT score was calculated. Women in the highest fourth of the NDS had on average 5 points higher SFT score compared with those in the lowest fourth (P for trend 0·005). No such association was observed in men. Women with the highest score had 17% better result in the 6-min walk test, 16% better arm curl and 20% better chair stand results compared with those with the lowest score (all P values<0·01). In conclusion, a healthy Nordic diet was associated with better overall physical performance among women and might help decrease the risk of disability in old age.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health,National Institute for Health and Welfare,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Mia-Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Perälä
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Health Sciences,Gerontology Research Center,University of Jyvaskyla,FI-40014 Jyväskylä,Finland.
authors.forename: Mikaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Bonsdorff
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health,National Institute for Health and Welfare,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Männistö
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health,National Institute for Health and Welfare,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Minna K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Salonen
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Social Research,University of Helsinki,FI-00014 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health,National Institute for Health and Welfare,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Noora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanerva
authors.affiliation: 5Age Institute,FI-00520 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Pertti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pohjolainen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health,National Institute for Health and Welfare,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kajantie
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Health Sciences,Gerontology Research Center,University of Jyvaskyla,FI-40014 Jyväskylä,Finland.
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health,National Institute for Health and Welfare,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Johan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002523:Edible Grain; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D017747:Seafood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D018977:Micronutrients; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids
keywords: Ageing; NDS Nordic diet score; Nordic diet; Physical performance; SFT Senior Fitness Test; Senior Fitness Test