Dietary Habits, Anthropometric Features and Daily Performance in Two Independent Long-Lived Populations from Nicoya peninsula (Costa Rica) and Ogliastra (Sardinia)

Abstract

(1) Background: Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs) are populations characterized by exceptional longevity. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the food habits of two representative samples of the oldest old subjects from the population residing in the LBZs of Nicoya peninsula (Costa Rica) and in the mountainous part of Ogliastra (Sardinia, Italy). (2) Methods: Data were collected using validated tools, including a food frequency questionnaire, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales for functional autonomy, body mass index, and waist and limbs circumferences. (3) Results: A total of 210 subjects, 60 (31 male) from Nicoya (age range 80–109 years), and 150 (61 male) from Ogliastra (age 90–101 years) were included in the study. In both populations, the highest frequencies of consumption were recorded for plant-derived foods (cereals 60–80% daily, legumes ≥ 80% daily in Nicoya, ≥ 60% 2–5 servings/week in Ogliastra), followed by those of animal origin (dairy products, meat) ≥60% and 80% daily, in Nicoya and Ogliastra, respectively. The frequency of milk consumption showed a positive correlation with BADL (ρ = 0.268 for Nicoya and ρ = 0.214 for Ogliastra) and IADL scores (ρ = 0.466 for Nicoya and ρ = 0.471 for Ogliastra), whereas legumes consumption correlated negatively with self-rated health (ρ = −0.264) and IADL (ρ = −0.332). (4) Conclusions: Our results indicate that the dominant dietary model among the elderly of Nicoya and Ogliastra is a plant-based diet complemented by a non-negligible consumption of animal products, mostly dairy products. Further prospective studies are needed to ascertain a possible cause–effect relationship between food habits and increased likelihood of reaching advanced age.

Evolution of the Dietary Patterns across Nutrition Transition in the Sardinian Longevity Blue Zone and Association with Health Indicators in the Oldest Old

“…Pulses and greens showed a weak correlation with the health indicators of study participants. The intake of potatoes was elevated in the LBZ population before NT but largely decreased thereafter, with minimal influence on self-rated health, daily performance or motor skills, as previously reported [24]. The majority of associations were similar in the two sexes, however those of self-perceived health and consumption of fish were significant only in males (M: ρ = 0.429; F: ρ = −0.030) while consumption of chicken meat and comorbidity was significant only in females (M: ρ = −0.308; F: ρ = −0.494).…”

“…Dietary habits were evaluated using two instruments. The first was a short validated qualitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) used in previous nutritional surveys concerning the LBZs [ 24 , 25 ]. The average intake of 15 foods ( cereals : bread, pasta; vegetables : pulses, leafy greens and fruit; potatoes ; meat: beef/pork, sheep/goat, chicken; seafood : mainly fish; dairy products : milk, soft and hard cheese; fats : olive oil and lard kept separate; sweets : usually traditional homemade dry cookies; coffee) over the past year was estimated.…”

“…The traditional diet of the population living in the Sardinian LBZ has often been described as particularly “healthy” and one of the major determinants of the exceptional longevity of this community [ 23 , 24 ]. However, the impact of NT on the global health of this population has rarely been investigated [ 25 , 26 ], and studies were mostly based on the analysis of aggregate data obtained from public sources [ 27 ], and not by directly interviewing people who can still recall their diet over the transitional period.…”

Impact of Polyphenolic-Food on Longevity: An Elixir of Life. An Overview

“…Meat is largely reserved for singular occasions. Sardinians drink wine moderately; Cannonau wine has two or three times the level of flavonoids as other wines [ 215 , 216 , 217 ].…”

“…So does plan de vida , or reason to live, which helps Nicoyan elders maintain an optimistic outlook and active lifestyle. Nicoyans eat little to no processed foods but plenty of antioxidant-rich tropical fruit [ 215 , 216 , 219 ].…”