Protein Intake and Risk of Falls: A Prospective Analysis in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: The prospective association between protein intake and falls has been little studied. We assessed this association in a Spanish community-dwelling cohort. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of 2464 men and women 60 years or older who were recruited in 2008-2010 and followed up through 2012. At baseline, the habitual protein intake was determined with a validated dietary history. At the end of follow-up, participants reported the number of falls experienced in the preceding year. Participants were stratified by an unintentional weight loss of 4.5 kg or more. Logistic regression was used after adjustment for the main confounders. RESULTS: A total of 522 participants (21.2%) experienced at least one fall. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of falling for the three increasing tertiles of total protein intake were 1.00, 0.86 (0.66-1.11), and 0.93 (0.70-1.24) (p for trend = 0.14). However, a statistically significant interaction with unintentional weight loss was observed for the association between protein intake and fall risk (p for interaction = 0.004). Among 163 participants (6.6%) who experienced unintentional weight loss, the ORs (95% CI) of falling for the three increasing tertiles of total protein intake were 1.00, 0.68 (0.21-2.23), and 0.23 (0.05-1.08) (p for trend = 0.01). CONCLUSION: No protective association between protein intake and fall risk in older adults was found. However, high total protein intake tended to confer substantial benefits to participants who experienced an unintentional weight loss of 4.5 kg or more in the preceding year. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:329-335, 2019.

The association of major patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleeping with mortality in older adults.

Objective: To identify major patterns of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and sleeping (all self-reported), and their association with long-term mortality. Methods: Cohort of 2,851 individuals aged ≥ 60 from Spain. Mortality was ascertain from 2003 up to July 2013. Patterns of PA, SB and sleeping were identified by factor analysis. Results: During follow-up, 1,145 deaths occurred. The first pattern, named "sedentary and non-active pattern", was characterized by long sleeping or lying time, and not doing even light PA (household chores or walking). The second pattern was named "active and non-sedentary pattern", and was characterized long time devoted to vigorous activities, long walking time, and short seating time. Compared to those in the first quartile of the "sedentary and non-active pattern", those in the highest quartile showed a 71% higher mortality (HR: 1.71; 95%CI: 1.42-2.07; p-trend:<0.001); it corresponds to being 6-year older. By contrast, being in the highest versus the lowest quartile of the "active and non-sedentary pattern" was associated with a 32% lower mortality (HR: 0.68: 0.57-0.82; p-trend:<0.001); it corresponds to being 4-year younger. Conclusion: The "sedentary and non-active" pattern had a large impact on mortality. The "active and non-sedentary" pattern showed an opposite and slightly lower association.

Socioeconomic determinants of sarcopenic obesity and frail obesity in community-dwelling older adults: The Seniors-ENRICA Study.

Information on the association between socioeconomic status (SES) throughout life and sarcopenic obesity is scarce, whereas no study has been focused on the association between SES and frail obesity. This analysis estimated the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity and frail obesity, and their associations with SES in older adults. Data were collected in 2012 from 1,765 non-institutionalized individuals aged ≥65 participating in the Seniors-ENRICA study in Spain, by using standardized techniques and equipment. SES throughout life was evaluated with the father's occupation, participant's educational level, former own occupation, and current poor housing condition. Overall, 17.2% of participants had sarcopenic obesity, and 4.0% frail obesity. No association was found between SES and sarcopenic obesity. In contrast, the prevalence of frail obesity was higher in those with lower education, having worked in manual job, and currently having poor housing condition. Having ≥1 social disadvantages throughout life was associated with higher prevalence of frail obesity. The prevalence of this disorder increased by 1.49 (95% CI: 1.21-1.85) times for each social disadvantage added. The OR (95% CI) of frail obesity was 3.13 (1.71-5.7) for those having 3 or 4 vs. 0 or 1 social disadvantages, implying a more complex process beginning early in life.

Combined Healthy Behaviors and Healthcare Services Use in Older Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Data on the combined impact of healthy behaviors on healthcare use in older adults are limited. METHODS: Study with community-dwelling individuals aged ≥60 years from the Spanish Seniors-ENRICA cohort, recruited in 2008-2010, followed through 2012-2013, and analyzed in 2016 (N=2,021). At baseline, the following healthy behaviors were self-reported: three traditional (never smoking, being physically active, having a healthy diet) and three emerging (sleeping 7-8 hours/day, sitting <8 hours/day, not living alone). Outcomes were self-reported polypharmacy (five or more drugs per day), primary care physician visits (one or more per month), medical specialist visits (more than one per year), and hospitalization (one or more in the last year). The associations between baseline healthy behaviors and healthcare services used in 2012-2013 were summarized with ORs and 95% CIs from multiple logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, lifestyles, comorbidities, and baseline health services used. RESULTS: Most single healthy behaviors were associated with lower use of most health services. Compared with participants with zero or one healthy behavior, those with five or six healthy behaviors showed lower risk of polypharmacy (OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.24, 0.85, p-trend=0.001), visits to the primary care physician (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.26, 0.96, p-trend=0.013), and hospitalization (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.24, 1.01, p-trend=0.016). No association was found with visits to the medical specialist. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of five to six healthy behaviors in older adults is associated with half the risk of polypharmacy and using several healthcare services. In an era of constrained resources in most countries, this information may help inform health policy to control healthcare spending in the future.

Correction: Combined Impact of Traditional and Non-Traditional Healthy Behaviors on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Prospective Study in Older Adults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170513.].

Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are associated with frailty in older adults: a prospective cohort study.

Background: diabetes increases the risk of frailty that is a leading cause of disability and premature mortality in older people. Metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin resistance (IR) are strong risk factors for diabetes and could, thus, lead to frailty. However, the association between MS or IR and frailty has barely been investigated. Methods: data were obtained from a cohort of 1,499 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥60, who were free of diabetes at 2008-10 and were followed up for 3.5 years. At baseline, MS was ascertained according to the harmonised definition, and IR with the Homoeostatic Model Assessment for IR index (HOMA-IR). Frailty was defined as having three or more of the Fried's criteria: exhaustion, low physical activity, slow walking, unintentional weight loss and low grip strength. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression, and adjusted for the main confounders. Results: in 2012, 84 cases of incident frailty were identified. Compared with subjects without MS, those with MS showed increased risk of frailty (multivariate odds ratio [OR]: 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-3.05). The association persisted after further adjustment for fibrinogen and C-reactive protein. When the frailty criteria were considered individually, low grip strength was the criterion that showed a stronger association with MS (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.25-2.21). Higher HOMA-IR values were also associated with higher risk of frailty. Conclusion: MS and IR were associated with increased risk of frailty. This work extends the spectrum of harmful consequences of MS, and suggests that preventing or controlling MS may serve to delay frailty.

Combined Impact of Traditional and Non-Traditional Healthy Behaviors on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Prospective Study in Older Adults.

Combined exposure to several healthy behaviors (HB) is associated with reduced mortality in older adults but its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) is uncertain. This is a cohort study of 2,388 individuals aged ≥60 recruited in 2000-2001, whose data were updated in 2003 and 2009. At baseline, participants reported both traditional HB (non-smoking, being very or moderately active, healthy diet) and non-traditional HB (sleeping 7-8 h/d, being seated <8 h/d, and seeing friends every day). HRQL was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire at baseline, in 2003 (short-term) and in 2009 (long-term); a higher score on the SF-36 represents better HRQL. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between HB at baseline and HRQL in 2003 and 2009, with adjustment for the main confounders including baseline HRQL. In the short-term, being physically active, sleeping 7-8 h/d, and being seated <8 h/d was associated with better HRQL. Compared to having ≤1 of these HB, the ß (95% confidence interval) for the score on the physical component summary of the SF-36 in 2003 was 1.42 (0.52-2.33) for 2 HB, and 2.06 (1.09-3.03) for 3 HB, p-trend <0.001. Corresponding figures for the mental component summary score were 1.89 (0.58-3.21) for 2 HB and 3.35 (1.95-4.76) for 3 HB, p-trend <0.001. Non-smoking, a healthy diet or seeing friends did not show an association with HRQL. In the long-term, being physically active was the only HB associated with better physical HRQL. As a conclusion, a greater number of HB, particularly more physical activity, adequate sleep duration, and sitting less, were associated with better short-term HRQL in older adults. However, in the long-term, being physically active was the only HB associated with better physical HRQL.

Correction: Mediterranean Diet and Health-Related Quality of Life in Two Cohorts of Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151596.].

Distribution of energy intake throughout the day and weight gain: a population-based cohort study in Spain.

Experimental research suggests that food timing is associated with weight regulation. However, the association between the distribution of energy intake (EI) throughout the day and weight gain in the population is uncertain. A cohort of 4243 individuals (49·9 % men, 50·1 % women) aged ≥18 years was selected in 2008-2010 and followed-up through 2012. At baseline, food consumption for a typical week in the previous year was collected with a validated dietary history, and EI was assessed at six eating occasions: breakfast, mid-morning meal, lunch, mid-afternoon meal, dinner and snacking (at any other moment). Individuals were classified into sex-specific quartiles of %EI for each eating occasion. The cut-off points for increasing quartiles of %EI at lunch were 34·4, 40·8 and 47·7 % in men and 33·2, 39·4 and 46·1 % in women. Weight was self-reported at baseline and at the end of follow-up. During a 3·5-year follow-up, 16·3 % of study participants gained >3 kg. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of %EI at lunch, the multivariate OR of gaining >3 kg was 0·79 (95 % CI 0·63, 0·99) in the second quartile, 0·82 (95 % CI 0·64, 1·04) in the third quartile and 0·62 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·80) in the highest quartile (P trend: 0·001). The association was stronger among women and those with overweight or obesity. No association was found between the %EI at the rest of the eating occasions and weight gain. In conclusion, a higher %EI at lunch was associated with a lower risk of weight gain; this may help weight control through the appropriate distribution of daily EI.

Mediterranean Diet and Health-Related Quality of Life in Two Cohorts of Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

INTRODUCTION: In older adults, the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower risk of chronic diseases, but its association with health-related quality of life (HRQL) is still uncertain. This study assessed the association between the Mediterranean diet and HRQL in 2 prospective cohorts of individuals aged ≥60 years in Spain. METHODS: The UAM-cohort (n = 2376) was selected in 2000/2001 and followed-up through 2003. At baseline, diet was collected with a food frequency questionnaire, which was used to develop an 8-item index of Mediterranean diet (UAM-MDP). The Seniors-ENRICA cohort (n = 1911) was recruited in 2008/2010 and followed-up through 2012. At baseline, a diet history was used to obtain food consumption. Mediterranean diet adherence was measured with the PREDIMED score and the Trichopoulou's Mediterranean Diet Score (MSD). HRQL was assessed, at baseline and at the end of follow-up, with the physical and mental component summaries (PCS and MCS) of the SF-36 questionnaire in the UAM-cohort, and the SF-12v.2 questionnaire in the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. Analyses were conducted with linear regression, and adjusted for the main confounders including baseline HRQL. RESULTS: In the UAM-cohort, no significant associations between the UAM-MDP and the PCS or the MCS were found. In the Seniors-ENRICA cohort, a higher PREDIMED score was associated with a slightly better PCS; when compared with the lowest tertile of PREDIMED score, the beta coefficient (95% confidence interval) for PCS was 0.55 (-0.48 to 1.59) in the second tertile, and 1.34 (0.21 to 2.47) in the highest tertile. However, the PREDIMED score was non-significantly associated with a better MCS score. The MSD did not show an association with either the PCS or the MCS. CONCLUSIONS: No clinically relevant association was found between the Mediterranean diet and HRQL in older adults in Spain.

Macronutrients Intake and Incident Frailty in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Only a few studies have assessed the association between protein intake and frailty incidence and have obtained inconsistent results. This study examined the association of protein and other macronutrient intake with the risk of frailty in older adults. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1,822 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 and older was recruited in 2008-2010 and followed-up through 2012. At baseline, food consumption was assessed with a validated, computerized face-to-face diet history. In 2012, individuals were contacted again to ascertain incident frailty, defined as the presence of at least three of the five Fried criteria: low physical activity, slowness, unintentional weight loss, muscle weakness, and exhaustion. Analyses were performed using logistic regression and adjusted for the main confounders, including total energy intake. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, 132 persons with incident frailty were identified. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of frailty across increasing quartiles of total protein were 1.00, 0.55 (0.32-0.93), 0.45 (0.26-0.78), and 0.41 (0.23-0.72); p trend: .001. The corresponding figures for animal protein intake were 1.00, 0.68 (0.40-1.17), 0.56 (0.32-0.97), and 0.48 (0.26-0.87), p trend: .011. And for intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), the results were 1.00, 0.66 (0.37-1.20), 0.54 (0.28-1.02), and 0.50 (0.26-0.96); p trend: .038. No association was found between intake of vegetable protein, saturated fats, long-chain ω-3 fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, simple sugars, or polysaccharides and the risk of frailty. CONCLUSION: Intake of total protein, animal protein, and MUFAs was inversely associated with incident frailty. Promoting the intake of these nutrients might reduce frailty.

Chocolate and health-related quality of life: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Chocolate consumption has been associated with a short-term reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol, and improvement of insulin sensitivity; however, participants could not be aware of presenting hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, the effect of chocolate on mental health is uncertain. This study assessed the association of regular chocolate consumption with the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components of health-related quality of life (HRQL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from a cohort of 4599 individuals recruited in 2008-2010 and followed-up once prospectively to January 2013 (follow-up mean: 3.5 years). Regular chocolate consumption was assessed at baseline with a validated diet history. HRQL was assessed with the SF-12 v.2 at baseline and at follow-up. Analyses were performed with linear regression and adjusted for the main confounders, including HRQL at baseline. RESULTS: At baseline, 72% of the study participants did not consume chocolate, 11% consumed ≤10 g/day and 17% >10 g/day. Chocolate consumption at baseline did not show an association with PCS and MCS of the SF-12 measured three years later. Compared to those who did not consume chocolate, the PCS scores were similar in those who consumed ≤10 g/day (beta: -0.07; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): -0.94 to 0.80) and in those who consumed >10 g/day (beta: 0.02; 95% CI:-0.71 to 0.75); corresponding figures for the MCS were 0.29; 95% CI: -0.67 to 1.26, and -0.57; 95%CI: -1.37 to 0.23. Similar results were found for sex, regardless of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes or depression. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found of an association between chocolate intake and the physical or mental components of HRQL.