New Study: Meat Eaters More Likely to Reach Age 100 Than Vegetarians

This study does not show that the link between eating meat and longer lifespan is cause and effect. The post New Study: Meat Eaters More Likely to Reach Age 100 Than Vegetarians appeared first on Safir Arjan .

This study does not show that the relationship between meat eating and longer life is cause and effect.

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A new research in China shows that eating meat can be related to longer life and increased probability of reaching 100 years in some elderly people. However, this relationship has only been observed in a specific group and does not mean proving the effect of meat on increasing longevity.

The researchers examined more than 5,000 people aged 80 and over. These people included 1,459 centenarians and 3,744 people in their 80s and 90s who had not yet reached 100 years of age. Data were obtained from a Chinese elderly health and life expectancy survey.

The results showed that meat-eating women lived to be 100 years old more often than vegetarian women. But a closer examination showed that this relationship is only seen in underweight women. In this group, daily meat consumption was associated with a 44% higher probability of reaching 100 years of age. Such a relationship was not observed in people with normal weight or overweight. In men, there was no significant relationship between vegetarianism and longevity.

Also, vegetarians who ate fish, dairy or eggs had the same chance of reaching 100 years as meat eaters. This finding shows that the intake of calories and essential nutrients is particularly important for the health of the elderly.

Body mass index probably explains part of this association. Although the elderly are more likely to be underweight than the young, a phenomenon called the "obesity paradox" explains that high weight in the elderly is sometimes associated with better health indicators.

However, this study only shows the relationship between the factors and does not prove the causal relationship. The researchers also did not examine changes in people's diets over time. The dietary habits recorded were related to the last years of life and may have been influenced by factors such as difficulty in chewing food.

There is also a difference of opinion about the amount of protein needed by the elderly. Some researches have associated vegetarianism with an increased risk of fractures and suggested protein and calcium deficiency as possible factors. On the other hand, other studies suggest that consuming less protein may contribute to the aging process.

Plant-based diets and limited meat consumption have been linked to reduced risk of certain diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Also, red meat and processed meats are usually associated with more adverse outcomes and are recommended to be consumed in moderation.

The authors emphasize that a balanced diet, including plant and animal sources, may contribute to healthy aging. More research on the very old elderly is needed to formulate more precise recommendations.

The researchers have published the results of their study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.