Dietary Habits, Anthropometric Features and Daily Performance in Two Independent Long-Lived Populations from Nicoya peninsula (Costa Rica) and Ogliastra (Sardinia)

Nutrients

Jorge Vindas¹  Laura Vindas¹  Alessandra Errigo²  Giovanni Mario Pes³  Maria Pina Dore³  Alessandra Nieddu³ 

[1] Asociación Península de Nicoya‒Zona Azul, San Juan de Tibás 145-1100, San José, Costa Rica;Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, I-07100 Sassari, Italy;Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 8, I-07100 Sassari, Italy;

关键词: longevity;    diet;    Costa Rica;    Sardinia;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu12061621

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

(1) Background: Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs) are populations characterized by exceptional longevity. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the food habits of two representative samples of the oldest old subjects from the population residing in the LBZs of Nicoya peninsula (Costa Rica) and in the mountainous part of Ogliastra (Sardinia, Italy). (2) Methods: Data were collected using validated tools, including a food frequency questionnaire, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales for functional autonomy, body mass index, and waist and limbs circumferences. (3) Results: A total of 210 subjects, 60 (31 male) from Nicoya (age range 80‒109 years), and 150 (61 male) from Ogliastra (age 90‒101 years) were included in the study. In both populations, the highest frequencies of consumption were recorded for plant-derived foods (cereals 60‒80% daily, legumes ≥ 80% daily in Nicoya, ≥ 60% 2‒5 servings/week in Ogliastra), followed by those of animal origin (dairy products, meat) ≥ 60% and 80% daily, in Nicoya and Ogliastra, respectively. The frequency of milk consumption showed a positive correlation with BADL (ρ = 0.268 for Nicoya and ρ = 0.214 for Ogliastra) and IADL scores (ρ = 0.466 for Nicoya and ρ = 0.471 for Ogliastra), whereas legumes consumption correlated negatively with self-rated health (ρ = ‒0.264) and IADL (ρ = ‒0.332). (4) Conclusions: Our results indicate that the dominant dietary model among the elderly of Nicoya and Ogliastra is a plant-based diet complemented by a non-negligible consumption of animal products, mostly dairy products. Further prospective studies are needed to ascertain a possible cause‒effect relationship between food habits and increased likelihood of reaching advanced age.

【 授权许可】

Unknown