Meat and Longevity in Old Age: A Nuanced Path to 100
A China-based longitudinal study of more than 5,000 adults aged 80+ followed since 1998 finds that skipping meat is linked to lower odds of reaching 100, but mainly among underweight individuals. Among those with healthy weight, non-meat diets show no reduced chance of becoming a centenarian, and those who include fish, dairy, or eggs have similar odds to meat-eaters. The findings underscore that nutrition in very old age should prioritize muscle maintenance and nutrient-dense foods, with modest animal-source foods possibly helping prevent undernutrition and frailty.
