Abstract
Background: Adult height has shown directionally diverse associations with several age-related disorders, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, decline in cognitive function, and mortality. Objectives: We investigated the associations of adult height with healthy aging measured by a full spectrum of health outcomes, including incidence of chronic diseases, memory, physical functioning, and mental health, among populations who have survived to older age, and whether lifestyle factors modified such relations.Design: We included 52,135 women (mean age: 44.2 y) from the Nurses’ Health Study without chronic diseases in 1980 and whose health status was available in 2012. Healthy aging was defined as being free of 11 major chronic diseases and having no reported impairment of subjective memory, physical impairment, or mental health limitations.Results: Of all eligible study participants, 6877 (13.2%) were classified as healthy agers. After adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, we observed an 8% (95% CI: 6%, 11%) decrease in the odds of healthy aging per SD (0.062 m) increase in height. Compared with the lowest category of height (≤1.57 m), the OR of achieving healthy aging in the highest category (≥1.70 m) was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.87; P-trend < 0.001). In addition, we found a significant interaction of height with a prudent dietary pattern in relation to healthy aging (P-interaction = 0.005), and among the individual dietary factors characterizing the prudent dietary pattern, fruit and vegetable intake showed the strongest effect modification (P-interaction = 0.01). The association of greater height with reduced odds of healthy aging appeared to be more evident among women with higher adherence to the prudent dietary pattern rich in vegetable and fruit intake.Conclusions: Greater height was associated with a modest decrease in the likelihood of healthy aging. A prudent diet rich in fruit and vegetables might modify the relation.© 2017 American Society for Nutrition.KEYWORDS: adult height; dietary pattern; fruit and vegetables; healthy aging; lifestyle
Generated Summary
This research investigated the association between adult height and healthy aging, as measured by the incidence of chronic diseases, memory, physical functioning, and mental health. The study included 52,135 women from the Nurses’ Health Study, focusing on their health status in 2012 and their health without chronic diseases in 1980. Healthy aging was defined by the absence of 11 major chronic diseases and no reported impairment in memory or physical or mental health. The study aimed to determine if lifestyle factors influenced the relationship between height and healthy aging. The methodology involved assessing the women’s health outcomes and analyzing the correlation between their height and healthy aging status. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of height and dietary patterns on the likelihood of healthy aging, considering potential interactions and modifications by lifestyle factors.
Key Findings & Statistics
- Out of the total eligible study participants, 6877 (13.2%) were categorized as healthy agers.
- After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, an 8% (95% CI: 6%, 11%) decrease was observed in the odds of healthy aging for every SD (0.062 m) increase in height.
- Compared to the lowest height category (≤1.57 m), the odds ratio (OR) of achieving healthy aging in the highest category (≥1.70 m) was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.87; P-trend < 0.001).
- A significant interaction was found between height and a prudent dietary pattern concerning healthy aging (P-interaction = 0.005).
- Among the dietary factors associated with the prudent dietary pattern, fruit and vegetable intake showed the strongest effect modification (P-interaction = 0.01).
- The association between greater height and reduced odds of healthy aging appeared more evident among women with higher adherence to a prudent dietary pattern rich in vegetables and fruit.
Other Important Findings
- The study found a statistically significant interaction between adult height and a prudent dietary pattern in relation to healthy aging (P-interaction = 0.005).
- The individual dietary factors characterizing the prudent dietary pattern, specifically fruit and vegetable intake, showed the most substantial effect modification (P-interaction = 0.01).
- The association between greater height and reduced odds of healthy aging was more pronounced among women who adhered to the prudent dietary pattern rich in vegetable and fruit intake.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The study was limited to a cohort of women from the Nurses’ Health Study, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations, including men.
- The study relied on self-reported data for health outcomes and lifestyle factors, which could be subject to recall bias or inaccuracies.
- The definition of healthy aging was based on specific criteria, which may not capture the full spectrum of healthy aging or be universally applicable.
- The observational design of the study prevents the establishment of a causal relationship between height and healthy aging.
- The study did not account for all potential confounding factors that could influence the relationship between height, diet, and healthy aging.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study provides insights into the relationship between adult height, dietary patterns, and healthy aging. The findings suggest that greater height is associated with a modest decrease in the likelihood of healthy aging. However, the study also highlights the importance of diet, particularly a prudent diet rich in fruits and vegetables, in modifying this relationship. The interaction between height and a prudent dietary pattern suggests that dietary choices can influence the impact of height on healthy aging. The stronger association of greater height with reduced odds of healthy aging among women with higher adherence to the prudent dietary pattern underscores the significance of diet in mitigating potential negative effects of height. This research contributes to the understanding of factors influencing healthy aging and emphasizes the role of lifestyle choices, especially dietary patterns, in promoting longevity and well-being. Further studies could explore the mechanisms behind these associations and validate these findings in diverse populations. The findings reinforce the importance of promoting healthy dietary habits, especially the consumption of fruits and vegetables, to support healthy aging across different adult height ranges. Future research might also investigate the optimal combinations of dietary and lifestyle factors to promote healthy aging.