292 - Plant and animal protein consumption, cardiometabolic risk and healthy aging: ATTICA and MEDIS epidemiological studies (ID 530)
Abstract
Background and Aims
The aim of the present work was to investigate the differential association between plant-based as opposed to animal-based protein rich diets upon healthy aging.
Methods
1128 individuals from ATTICA study and 2210 individuals from MEDIS study, residents of Greece and >50 years of age, were enrolled. Participants were classified into: a)“Low animal-Low plant protein”: protein intake from both animal and plant sources was <1-2 times/week, b)“Low animal-High plant”: animal protein intake was <1-2 times/week and plant protein intake ≥1-2 times/week, c)“High animal-Low plant”: animal protein intake was ≥1-2 times/week and plant protein intake <1-2 times/week, and, d)“High animal-High plant”: both animal and plant protein intakes were ≥1-2 times/week. Healthy aging (HA) was evaluated using a validated index composed of 10 health-related social-, lifestyle- and clinical characteristics.
Results
Participants with high plant protein intake had higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet and higher level of HA, as compared to participants with low plant protein intake (p’s<0.0001), whereas high animal protein consumers were more likely to have hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (p’s<0.001) compared to low animal protein consumers. Adjustments for age, sex, smoking habits and protein intake showed that plant protein intake was positively associated with HA (b±SE:0.476±0.045, p<0.001). “Low animal-Low plant” and “High animal-Low plant” protein consumers had 6.2% (p<0.001) and 2.3% (p=0.004) lower HA score respectively while “Low animal-High plant” and “High animal-High plant” protein consumers had 7.2% and 5.3% higher HA score (p’s<0.001) compared to the other groups.
Conclusions
Plant-based, protein diets may benefit individuals’ health and promote healthy aging.
