Healthy dietary patterns, longevity genes, and life expectancy: A prospective cohort study

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The relationship between specific healthy dietary patterns and longevity is not fully understood.
• Investigating the impact of various dietary indices on mortality and life expectancy is crucial for public health guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prospective associations between five distinct dietary patterns and all-cause mortality.
• To quantify the impact of adherence to these dietary patterns on life expectancy in a large cohort.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 103,649 UK Biobank participants with a median follow-up of 10.6 years.
• Assessment of five dietary patterns: Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010, Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED), healthful Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet (DRRD).
• Statistical analysis to determine associations with mortality and calculate years of life gained, adjusting for genetic susceptibility.

Main Results:

• All five assessed dietary patterns were associated with reduced all-cause mortality and increased life expectancy.
• The Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet (DRRD) and healthful Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI) showed the strongest associations.
• Adherence to the top quintile of dietary scores correlated with an additional 1.5–3.0 years of life gained by age 45, with variations between sexes.

Conclusions:

• Healthy dietary patterns significantly contribute to increased life expectancy.
• The benefits of these diets in prolonging life persist even when genetic predispositions for longevity are considered.
• Promoting adherence to diets like DRRD and AMED can be a valuable public health strategy for enhancing longevity.