Diet Alone Can Improve Older Adults' Health

A 12-week study in Nutrients found older adults on a diet designed to help reduce high blood pressure showed improvements that went beyond those expected by South Dakota State University (SDSU) researchers, reports Medical Xpress . The 36 adults, age 65 or older, who completed the study lost an average of 6 percent of total body weight and maintained their muscle strength. Moreover, "the dietary changes actually helped improve their metabolic health," said SDSU Professor Cydne Perry. This lowered their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver disease. During the study, Perry said participants "consumed all of the meals provided by the research personnel and none that we did not provide," using the controlled feeding methodology described as "the gold standard for clinical nutritional research in humans." The researchers prepared meals consisting of grains, dairy, protein, fruits, and vegetables, containing 1,800 daily calories. Participants also consumed 126 grams of meat a day, evenly distributed among breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with 391 milligrams of daily cholesterol intake. Average blood pressure in the group declined from 133/76 mmHg to 120/70 mmHg, eliminating blood pressure as a risk factor.