Mediterranean Diet May Protect Older Adults from Becoming Frail

Following a Mediterranean diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts may reduce the risk of frailty in older individuals, reports Medical Xpress . The findings, which were published Monday in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , suggest that a diet emphasising plant-based foods and low to moderate amounts of fish and poultry helps keep people healthy and independent as they age. "People who followed a Mediterranean diet the most were overall less than half as likely to become frail over a nearly four-year period compared with those who followed it the least," said Kate Walters of the University College London Institute of Epidemiology and Health. The diet, which also includes low to moderate amounts of wine, is low in saturated fat and sugar and has been associated with multiple health benefits, including lower incidences of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, overall cancer incidence, as well as prolonged survival. The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of four published studies examining associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and development of frailty in older adults. Their analysis included 5,789 people over 60 living in France, Spain, Italy, and China.