Dietary protein intake in midlife in relation to healthy aging – results from the prospective Nurses’ Health Study cohort
Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term role of dietary protein intake in healthy aging among female participants in the prospective Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) cohort.
Methods: We included 48,762 NHS participants aged <60 y in 1984. Total protein, animal protein, dairy protein (a subset of animal protein), and plant protein were derived from validated food frequency questionnaires. Healthy aging was defined as being free from 11 major chronic diseases, having good mental health, and not having impairments in either cognitive or physical function, as assessed in the 2014 or 2016 NHS participant questionnaires. We used multivariate logistic regression adjusted for lifestyle, demographics, and health status to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for protein intake in relation to healthy aging.
