Macronutrients, diet quality, and frailty in older men

James M. Shikany, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Kristine E. Ensrud, Peggy M. Cawthon, Cora E. Lewis, Thuy Tien L. Dam, Jackilen Shannon, David T. Redden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Frailty, a phenotype of multisystem impairment and expanding vulnerability, is associated with higher risk of adverse health outcomes not entirely explained by advancing age. We investigated associations of macronutrients, dietary fiber, and overall diet quality with frailty status in older community-dwelling men. Methods. Participants were 5,925 men aged ≥65 years enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study at six U.S. centers. Diet was assessed at baseline with a food frequency questionnaire. We assessed frailty status (robust, intermediate, or frail) at baseline and at a second clinic visit (a mean of 4.6 years later) using a slightly modified Cardiovascular Health Study frailty index. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between macronutrient intake, dietary fiber, and the Diet Quality Index Revised with frailty status at baseline and at the second clinic visit. Results. At baseline, 2,748 (46.4%) participants were robust, 2,681 (45.2%) were intermediate, and 496 (8.4%) were frail. Carbohydrate, fat, protein, and dietary fiber showed no consistent associations with frailty status. Overall diet quality exhibited fairly consistent associations with frailty status. The Diet Quality Index Revised was inversely associated with frail status relative to robust status at the baseline visit (odds ratio for Q5 vs Q1 = 0.44, 95% confidence interval: 0.30, 0.63; p for trend <. 0001) and at the second clinic visit (odds ratio for Q5 vs Q1 = 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.03, 0.97; p for trend =. 0180). Conclusions. Overall diet quality was inversely associated with prevalent and future frailty status in this cohort of older men.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)695-701
Number of pages7
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume69
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Frailty
  • Nutrition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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