Compliance with dietary recommenda- tions of the German Nutrition Society is associated with reduced risk of frailty

Summary The nutritional habits of 192 community-dwelling senior citizens (75 years of age or older) were documented using a Healthy Eating Index (HEI-GFP, max. 110 points) based on the dietary recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (DGE). Frailty was defined by following criteria: weight loss, fatigue, low physical activity, low handgrip strength and slow walking speed. The HEI-GFP was significantly lower in frail subjects than in pre-frail and non-frail subjects (61.0 ± 8.4 vs. 65.1 ± 10.3 vs. 66.5 ± 9.3; p < 0.05). The risk of frailty was significantly reduced in the highest quartile of the HEI-GFP (≥ 71.25 points) (odds ratio [OR] 0.07; 95 % confidence interval [95 %-CI] 0.01–0.58). Conclusion: In persons over 75 years of age living at home, a stronger adherence to the dietary recommendations of the DGE was associated with a reduced risk of frailty.

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