Dietary Habits, Anthropometric Features and Daily Performance in Two Independent Long-Lived Populations from Nicoya peninsula (Costa Rica) and Ogliastra (Sardinia).
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 32492804 · doi:10.3390/nu12061621
What was done
Cross-sectional study comparing dietary intake, body measurements, and functional performance in 210 oldest-old individuals from two Longevity Blue Zones: Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica (n = 60, aged 80–109 years, 31 male) and mountainous Ogliastra, Sardinia, Italy (n = 150, aged 90–101 years, 61 male). Researchers collected data using validated food frequency questionnaires, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), body mass index, and waist and limb circumferences.
What was found
Both cohorts consumed plant-derived foods most frequently: cereals were eaten daily by 60–80% of participants, and legumes were eaten daily by ≥80% in Nicoya and 2–5 servings per week by ≥60% in Ogliastra. Animal-source foods (meat, dairy) were consumed daily by ≥60% of participants in Nicoya and ≥80% in Ogliastra. Frequency of milk consumption correlated positively with BADL scores (rho = 0.268 in Nicoya, rho = 0.214 in Ogliastra) and IADL scores (rho = 0.466 in Nicoya, rho = 0.471 in Ogliastra). Legume consumption correlated negatively with self-rated health (rho = -0.264) and IADL scores (rho = -0.332).
Why it matters
Provides empirical dietary and functional intake data directly from two distinct long-lived geographic populations, showing that their diets are primarily plant-based but feature regular dairy and meat intake.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or determine if current late-life diets reflect lifelong habits. Total sample size was modest (particularly the Nicoya cohort, n = 60). Dietary intake relied on self-report questionnaires subject to recall bias, and potential confounding variables such as socioeconomic status or overall caloric intake were not reported.
Cited by
- supports Epidemiological studies of Blue Zones show that populations with exceptional longevity consume mostly plant-based diets.