Mediterranean diet could 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, according to a UCL-led study. The findings, which are published today 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. The diet is based on food patterns typical of Greece and Southern Italy in the 1960s. "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 Dr Kate Walters (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & 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. These include lower incidences of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, overall cancer incidence, as well as prolonged survival. Frailty is common among older people and its prevalence is increasing as the population ages. Frail older adults may often feel low in energy and have weight loss and weak muscle strength.