Khaberni - A recent Chinese study found that avoiding meat consumption may be linked to decreased chances of reaching the age of one hundred, contrary to the prevailing belief that vegetarian diets are the healthier option for longevity.
The large-scale study showed that meat-eaters were more likely to reach this advanced age compared to vegetarians, even after accounting for influencing factors such as smoking and exercise.
The results indicated that those who abstained from meat had a 19% lower probability of reaching the age of one hundred compared to meat-eaters, and this percentage increased to 29% among strict vegetarians who do not consume any animal products.
However, vegetarians who include eggs and dairy products in their diet had a 14% lower chance of reaching the age of one hundred compared to meat-eaters, and vegetarian diets that include fish also showed decreased chances of reaching this age.
Researchers attributed these differences to the nutritional needs of the elderly, pointing out that vegetarian diets might not provide some essential elements in sufficient quantities as one ages.
Dr. Xiang Gao, the lead researcher of the study from Fudan University, said that a diet combining plant-based and animal-based foods might be more supportive of longevity for people aged 80 and over, especially those who are underweight.
The study included 5203 participants in the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey, all of whom were 80 or older at the start of the study in 1998. Out of these, 1495 individuals reached the age of one hundred, while 3744 participants died before reaching this age.
Using statistical tools, the researchers analyzed the health data of the participants to determine the relationship between diet and the chances of reaching the age of one hundred, concluding that continuing to eat meat as part of a balanced diet was associated with increased survival chances.
However, the researchers emphasized that their findings do not advocate a diet solely based on meat, as the study showed that vegetables play a pivotal role in supporting longevity.
The results indicated that daily vegetable consumption was linked with an increased likelihood of reaching the age of one hundred by more than 84% compared to those who do not consume them regularly.
The study also revealed that the impact of diet varies depending on the physical condition of the elderly; vegetarians with a healthy body mass index were not less likely to reach the age of one hundred compared to meat-eaters, while no significant statistical effect of diet was recorded among those who are overweight.
Conversely, daily meat consumption was linked with a 44% increased likelihood of reaching the age of one hundred among underweight individuals.
In their research paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers emphasized that following a balanced diet combining plant-based and animal-based foods might contribute to supporting longevity, especially among older adults who are underweight.
