Five Dietary Patterns Linked to Lower Mortality in Large UK Study

Recent research has examined how different dietary patterns relate to longevity, using data from a large group of UK residents tracked over more than ten years.

The study, published in Science Advances, analyzed dietary habits, genetic factors, and mortality outcomes among participants in the UK Biobank. Researchers focused on five specific eating patterns: the Mediterranean diet, Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet, DASH diet, plant-based diet, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index.

Adherence to any of these five diets was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, with reductions ranging from 18% to 24%. The study included both men and women, allowing for analysis of differences in estimated life expectancy gains.

For women who followed one of the healthy dietary patterns, the estimated increase in lifespan ranged from 1.5 to 2.3 years. For men, the estimated gain was between 1.9 and 3 years, according to the published findings.

What the numbers show

• More than 100,000 participants were included in the study
• Adherence to healthy diets was linked to an 18-24% reduction in mortality risk
• Estimated life expectancy gains: 1.5-2.3 years for women, 1.9-3 years for men

The research also considered genetic predisposition to reduced longevity. Results indicated that even among individuals with genetic variants linked to shorter lifespans, following one of the five healthy diets was still associated with a lower risk of death.

Among the dietary components analyzed, high fiber intake showed the strongest association with increased longevity. In contrast, high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages showed the weakest association with longer life.

The study tracked participants’ dietary patterns and health outcomes over a period of just over a decade. Researchers used this long-term data to assess the relationship between diet, genetics, and mortality.

These findings provide evidence that multiple healthy dietary patterns may be linked to reduced mortality risk, regardless of genetic background. The results highlight the potential impact of dietary choices on lifespan in a large population sample.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.