Anti-inflammatory diet, physical activity, and risk of all-cause mortality in older adults: a prospective cohort study
TL;DR
Adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet was associated with reduced mortality risk in Chinese older adults and the findings underscore the value of integrating both dietary and physical activity strategies to promote healthy longevity.
Abstract
Background Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns are associated with a lower risk of several chronic diseases, but their association with all-cause mortality in Chinese older adults is unknown. In this first study of a Chinese population, we investigated this association and its joint effects with physical activity, to inform strategies for healthy longevity. Methods This analysis included 6,468 participants aged ≥65 years from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Anti-inflammatory diet was assessed using the anti-inflammatory diet index (AIDI), which was derived from data collected via a simplified food frequency questionnaire. Physical activity was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results During a median follow-up of 7 years, 4,117 deaths occurred. After multivariable adjustment, compared with participants in the lowest tertile of the AIDI, those in the highest tertile had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.77-0.94). Each one standard deviation increase in the AIDI was associated with a 8% lower risk of mortality. Joint analyses further showed that a high AIDI combined with regular exercise, or with high leisure activity, was associated with a significantly lower mortality risk. Conclusions Adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet was associated with reduced mortality risk in Chinese older adults. The findings underscore the value of integrating both dietary and physical activity strategies to promote healthy longevity.