Examination of dietary factors contributing to the prevention of frailty-related diseases in the elderly: The Hisayama Study

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11725
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima Shudo University (2022-2024); Kyushu University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: KIMURA YASUMI 広島修道大学, 健康科学部, 教授 (00552415)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吉田 大悟 福岡看護大学, 看護学部, 教授 (10596828) ; 二宮 利治 九州大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (30571765)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 野菜摂取量 / 疫学研究 / 生活習慣病 / 老年期疾患 / 認知症 / メタボリックシンドローム / 皮膚カロテノイドレベル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The influence of dietary factors on geriatric diseases and lifestyle-related diseases has been attracting attention. In this study, we envestigateded the association between vegetable and fruit intake and dementia among residents aged 65 years and older who underwent health examitations in Hisayama Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. The results showed that, after adjusting for multiple variables, the hazard ratio for dementia incidence decreased significantly with increasing vegetable intake. On the other hand, there are no significant associations between fruits intake and the incidence of dementia.
Additionally, in participants aged 40 years or older, we investigated the association between skin carotenoid levels reflecting vegetable intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The results showed that individuals with higher skin carotenoid levels had a significantly lower presence of MetS.

Free Research Field

栄養疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において野菜摂取量レベルが高い者ほど認知症発症リスクが低下すること、野菜摂取量を反映する皮膚カロテノイドレベルが高い者ではMetSを有するリスクが低いことが示されたことより、野菜摂取量が老年期疾患や生活習慣病の予防に有効であることが示唆された。これらの解析結果は、認知症発症や生活習慣病における野菜摂取の重要性を明らかにするとともに、これらの疾患の予防法に寄与すると考えられる。