Adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet was associated with reduced mortality risk in Chinese older adults, and the combination of a high anti-inflammatory diet index with regular exercise or high leisure activity was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality risk.
Key Findings
Results
Older adults in the highest tertile of the anti-inflammatory diet index (AIDI) had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those in the lowest tertile.
Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77–0.94 for highest vs. lowest tertile of AIDI
Analysis was adjusted for multiple covariates in Cox proportional hazards regression models
The study included 6,468 participants aged ≥65 years from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey
During a median follow-up of 7 years, 4,117 deaths occurred
Results
Each one standard deviation increase in the AIDI was associated with an 8% lower risk of all-cause mortality.
This represents a dose-response relationship between anti-inflammatory diet adherence and mortality risk
Anti-inflammatory diet was assessed using the AIDI derived from a simplified food frequency questionnaire
The association was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models with multivariable adjustment
Results
A high AIDI combined with regular exercise was associated with a significantly lower all-cause mortality risk compared to lower diet and activity combinations.
Joint analyses were conducted examining the combined effects of AIDI and physical activity on mortality
Physical activity was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire
Both regular exercise and high leisure activity were evaluated as physical activity components in joint analyses
Results
A high AIDI combined with high leisure activity was associated with a significantly lower all-cause mortality risk.
This finding was part of joint analyses examining diet and physical activity combinations
Leisure activity was assessed separately from structured exercise as a component of physical activity
The findings underscore the value of integrating both dietary and physical activity strategies to promote healthy longevity
Background
This study represents the first investigation of anti-inflammatory diet and all-cause mortality in a Chinese older adult population.
The study population was drawn from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey
Participants were aged ≥65 years (n = 6,468)
Prior studies had established associations between anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and lower risk of several chronic diseases, but not specifically in Chinese older adults
Median follow-up was 7 years, during which 4,117 deaths occurred
What This Means
This research suggests that older Chinese adults who follow a more anti-inflammatory diet — one that emphasizes foods known to reduce inflammation in the body — have a meaningfully lower risk of dying from any cause over a 7-year period. The study tracked 6,468 adults aged 65 and older and found that those who most closely followed an anti-inflammatory eating pattern had a 15% lower risk of death compared to those who followed it the least. Every incremental improvement in diet quality was also linked to an 8% reduction in mortality risk, suggesting that even modest dietary improvements may matter.
The study also found that combining a healthy anti-inflammatory diet with physical activity — either structured exercise or leisure-time activities like walking or gardening — was associated with even greater reductions in mortality risk than diet alone. This suggests a synergistic benefit when older adults engage in both healthy eating and staying physically active.
This research matters because it is the first study to examine this specific diet-mortality relationship in a Chinese older adult population, an important gap given that dietary patterns and longevity research has often focused on Western populations. The findings suggest that public health strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging in older adults should consider encouraging both anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and regular physical activity together, rather than focusing on just one lifestyle factor.
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Sun M, Li T, Cong L, Ma X, Hou M, Ai H, et al.. (2026). Anti-inflammatory diet, physical activity, and risk of all-cause mortality in older adults: a prospective cohort study.. Frontiers in immunology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1871177