Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between empirically derived dietary patterns and frailty among older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

Rebecca Luong; Rosilene Ribeiro; Vasi Naganathan; Fiona Blyth; Louise M Waite; David J Handelsman; David G Le Couteur; Markus J Seibel; Vasant Hirani

doi:10.1016/j.jnha.2023.100021

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between empirically derived dietary patterns and frailty among older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

J Nutr Health Aging. 2024 Jan;28(1):100021. doi: 10.1016/j.jnha.2023.100021. Epub 2024 Jan 1.

Authors

Rebecca Luong¹, Rosilene Ribeiro², Vasi Naganathan³, Fiona Blyth⁴, Louise M Waite³, David J Handelsman⁵, David G Le Couteur⁶, Markus J Seibel⁷, Vasant Hirani⁸

Affiliations

¹ Nutrition and Dietetics Group, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: rebecca.luong@sydney.edu.au.
² Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia; Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia.
⁴ ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia; Andrology Department, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia; ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia.
⁸ Nutrition and Dietetics Group, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia; ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 38267155
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2023.100021

Abstract

Background: Diet may be associated with frailty.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the associations between empirically derived dietary patterns and frailty in older men.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, Sydney, Australia.

Participants: 785 community-dwelling older Australian men aged 75 years and older.

Methods: Men underwent dietary assessment using a validated dietitian-administered diet history questionnaire. Factor analysis identified three dietary patterns. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted between frailty and dietary patterns for cross-sectional analyses and longitudinal analyses over a 3-year follow-up. Frailty was defined by the Fried frailty phenotype.

Results: Of the 785 men, pre-frailty was prevalent in 47.1% (n = 370), and frailty in 8.3% (n = 65). In fully adjusted cross-sectional analyses, the top tertile and a higher 'vegetables-legumes-seafood' dietary pattern score were associated with reduced prevalence of frailty (OR 0.34 [95% CI: 0.12, 0.93, P = .036]) and OR 0.50 [95% CI: 0.30, 0.83, P = .007] respectively). The top tertile of the 'discretionary-starchy vegetables-processed meats' dietary pattern was also associated cross-sectionally with increased prevalence of pre-frailty (OR 1.75 [95% CI: 1.08, 2.83, P = .022]). Of the 296 robust men in fully adjusted longitudinal analyses, the incidence of pre-frailty was 52.4% (n = 155), and frailty was 5.4% (n = 16) over a 3-year follow-up. The middle tertile of the 'vegetables-legumes-seafood' dietary pattern had a non-significant trend towards reduced incident pre-frailty (OR 0.52 [95% CI: 0.27, 1.00, P = .050]).

Conclusion: Consumption of a 'vegetables-legumes-seafood' dietary pattern appears to be less favoured by frail older men.

Keywords: Diet; Food; Frailty syndrome; Older men.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Australia / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietary Patterns
Fabaceae*
Frailty* / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
Vegetables