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ABSTRACT: Background
Protein intake plays an important role in maintaining the health status of older adults. However, few epidemiologic studies examined midlife protein intake in relation to healthy aging.Objectives
The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term role of dietary protein intake in healthy aging among female participants in the prospective Nurses' Health Study (NHS) cohort.Methods
We included 48,762 NHS participants aged <60 y in 1984. Total protein, animal protein, dairy protein (a subset of animal protein), and plant protein were derived from validated food frequency questionnaires. Healthy aging was defined as being free from 11 major chronic diseases, having good mental health, and not having impairments in either cognitive or physical function, as assessed in the 2014 or 2016 NHS participant questionnaires. We used multivariate logistic regression adjusted for lifestyle, demographics, and health status to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for protein intake in relation to healthy aging.Results
A total of 3721 (7.6%) NHS participants met our healthy aging definition. Protein intake was significantly associated with higher odds of healthy aging. The ORs (95% confidence intervals) per 3%-energy increment with healthy aging were 1.05 (1.01, 1.10) for total protein, 1.07 (1.02, 1.11) for animal protein, 1.14 (1.06, 1.23) for dairy protein, and 1.38 (1.24, 1.54) for plant protein. Plant protein was also associated with higher odds of absence of physical function limitations and good mental status. In substitution analyses, we observed significant positive associations for the isocaloric replacement of animal or dairy protein, carbohydrate, or fat with plant protein (ORs for healthy aging: 1.22-1.58 for 3% energy replacement with plant protein).Conclusions
Dietary protein intake, especially plant protein, in midlife, is associated with higher odds of healthy aging and with several domains of positive health status in a large cohort of female nurses.
SUBMITTER: Ardisson Korat AV
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10884611 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ardisson Korat Andres V AV Shea M Kyla MK Jacques Paul F PF Sebastiani Paola P Wang Molin M Eliassen A Heather AH Willett Walter C WC Sun Qi Q
The American journal of clinical nutrition 20240117 2
<h4>Background</h4>Protein intake plays an important role in maintaining the health status of older adults. However, few epidemiologic studies examined midlife protein intake in relation to healthy aging.<h4>Objectives</h4>The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term role of dietary protein intake in healthy aging among female participants in the prospective Nurses' Health Study (NHS) cohort.<h4>Methods</h4>We included 48,762 NHS participants aged <60 y in 1984. Total protein, anima ...[more]