Animal protein intake is associated with higher-level functional capacity in elderly adults: the Ohasama study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between protein intake and risk of higher-level functional decline in older community-dwelling adults. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: Ohasama Town, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Residents (N = 1,007; mean age 67.4 ± 5.5) free of functional decline at baseline; follow-up was conducted for 7 years. MEASUREMENTS: Nutrient and food intakes were determined using a validated 141-item food frequency questionnaire. Participants were divided into quartiles according to intake levels of total, animal, and plant protein. Subscales of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence subscales were used to assess higher-level functional decline. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the future risk of higher-level functional decline in relation to protein intake, with lowest protein intake as reference. RESULTS: During the study period, 24.4% of eligible participants reported declines in higher-level functional capacity. After adjustment for putative confounding factors, men in the highest quartile of animal protein intake had significantly lower risk of higher-level functional decline than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio (OR) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.20-0.83; P for trend .01). These associations were not seen in women (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.41-1.34; P for trend .37). No consistent association was observed between plant protein intake and future higher-level functional decline in either sex. CONCLUSION: Higher protein, particularly animal protein, was associated with lower risk of decline in higher-level functional capacity in older men. Animal protein intake may be a modifiable indicator for early detection and prevention of higher-level functional decline in elderly adults.

Health behaviors as predictors for declines in higher-level functional capacity in older adults: the Ohasama study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics of health behaviors related to higher-level functional decline in older community-dwelling adults. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: Ohasama Town, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand fifty residents (mean age: 67.5) free of functional decline at baseline. MEASUREMENTS: Health behaviors including smoking status, alcohol consumption, frequency of exercise, sleep duration, dietary habits (supplement use, breakfast, late-night snacking, eating regularly, and eating out), and self-rated health were obtained from a self-administered questionnaire at baseline. Higher-level functional decline was examined using the subscales of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. RESULTS: During the 7-year follow-up, 27.5% of eligible participants reported decline in higher-level functional capacity. After adjustment for putative confounding factors, health behaviors that were significant predictors for declines in higher-level functional capacity at the 7-year follow-up were current smoking (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-2.36), sleep duration of 9 hours or longer (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.49-3.11), and poor self-rated health (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.40-2.67). CONCLUSION: Several modifiable health behaviors contribute to higher-level functional decline.

[Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale].

AIM: To investigate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), which is used worldwide as a screening tool for social isolation in elderly individuals. METHODS: An interview-format questionnaire survey was given to 232 elderly community residents undergoing general health checkups. In addition to the Japanese version of the LSNS-6, other questionnaire items regarding social support, the Japanese version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), base attributes, and self-ratings of health, physical function and suicidal ideation were obtained. The internal consistency, test-retest, and interrater reliability of the Japanese version of the LSNS-6 were determined using the Cronbach α correlation, Spearman correlation, and intraclass correlation coefficients, respectively. Construct validity was investigated by comparison with the results of a previous study, while concurrent validity was determined in relation to SDS scores as well as questionnaire items on social support. RESULTS: The Cronbach α coefficient was 0.82, the correlation coefficient for the test-retest was 0.92 (P<0.001), and the intraclass correlation coefficient for interrater reliability was 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90-0.99). Mean scores on the Japanese version of the LSNS-6 increased as the number of household members increased (P=0.033), but decreased among elderly individuals at risk of suicide (P=0.026), and tended to decrease among those with a poor self-rated health score (P=0.081). Scores on the Japanese version of the LSNS-6 had a significant negative correlation with SDS scores (P<0.001) On 4 of the 5 questionnaire items on social support, and those without social support had significantly lower mean scores on the Japanese version of the LSNS-6 (P<0.05) than those with social support. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the abbreviated LSNS-6.

Fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of hypertension determined by self measurement of blood pressure at home: the Ohasama study.

It is well recognized that high fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a reduction of blood pressure (BP) measured by conventional BP measurement in Western countries; however, there is little evidence about these associations in other regions and there have been no reports on these associations using self-measured BP at home (home BP). The objective of this work was to investigate the associations of fruit and vegetable consumption and their related micronutrients with the reduction of hypertension risk by using home BP in Japanese residents. Data were obtained from 1,569 residents aged 35 and over who measured their home BP in a general population of Ohasama, Japan. Dietary intake was measured using a 141-item food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and then subjects were divided into tertiles according to fruit, vegetable, potassium, vitamin C, and beta-carotene consumption. Hypertension was defined as home systolic/ diastolic BP > or = 135/85 mmHg and/or the use of antihypertensive medication. The prevalence of home hypertension was 39.4% for men and 29.3% for women. After adjustment for all potential confounding factors, the highest-tertile consumptions of fruits, vegetables, potassium, and vitamin C were associated with a significantly lower risk of hypertension (45%, 38%, 46%, and 43% lower risk of home hypertension, respectively). In conclusion, this cross-sectional study based on home BP measurement suggests that high-level consumptions of fruits, vegetables, potassium, and vitamin C are associated with a significantly lower risk of hypertension.