NEW YORK, Nov 25, (Agencies): A transformative shift from an unhealthy to a healthy diet in midlife could potentially extend an individual's life by nearly a decade, according to a newly published study. The research, featured in Nature Food, employed a sophisticated model to estimate the impact of lifestyle changes on life expectancy, utilizing data from 467,354 participants in the UK Biobank—a substantial biomedical database containing genetic and health information from half a million UK individuals.

The study revealed that individuals in their 40s who transitioned from an unhealthy diet to a longevity-associated one could gain approximately 10 years in life expectancy, with women experiencing an additional 10.8 years and men 10.4 years. Shifting from an average diet to a longevity-associated one in the 40s was associated with a life expectancy gain of 3.1 years for women and 3.4 years for men. Implementing similar dietary changes in one's 70s was linked to a life expectancy gain of approximately five years.

The research indicated that the magnitude of dietary changes correlated with the expected gains in life expectancy. Researchers from the University of Bergen, Norway, and the University of Glasgow, Scotland, identified whole grains, nuts, and fruits as having the most positive impact on life expectancy. Conversely, sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meat showed the strongest links to mortality.

The longevity-associated diet, resembling the Mediterranean diet, emphasized a high intake of milk and dairy, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, along with moderate consumption of whole grains, fruit, fish, and white meat. It also recommended a relatively low intake of eggs, red meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages, and minimal consumption of refined grains and processed meat.

The study acknowledged that correlation, not causation, was evident between a healthy diet and longer life expectancy. However, the researchers adjusted their model to mitigate potential confounding factors like smoking and socioeconomic status. Limitations included not considering the fluctuation of dietary patterns over time and the UK Biobank not measuring participants' rice consumption, particularly significant for various migrant groups.

Professor Gunter Kunhle, a nutritional scientist at the University of Reading, UK, not involved in the research, commented on the findings, noting their alignment with existing evidence on diets leading to longer, healthier lives. He emphasized the challenges of transitioning from decades of an unhealthy diet to a balanced, healthy nutrition plan but highlighted the importance of promoting a healthy, balanced diet at every life stage.