Healthy dietary patterns, longevity genes, and life expectancy: A prospective cohort study.

All five healthy dietary patterns were associated with lower all-cause mortality over a median follow-up of 10.6 years in 103,649 UK Biobank participants.

• The five dietary patterns examined were: Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI), Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED), healthful Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet (DRRD).
• A total of 4,314 total deaths were documented during the follow-up period.
• The median follow-up period was 10.6 years.
• Sample size was 103,649 UK Biobank participants.

Achieving the top quintile of dietary scores compared with the bottom quintile was associated with 1.9 to 3.0 years of life gained at age 45 in men.

• The range of life gained in men spanned 1.9 to 3.0 years depending on the dietary pattern.
• The longest life gained in males was observed for the DRRD dietary pattern.
• Life expectancy gains were calculated at age 45 years.

Achieving the top quintile of dietary scores compared with the bottom quintile was associated with 1.5 to 2.3 years of life gained at age 45 in women.

• The range of life gained in women spanned 1.5 to 2.3 years depending on the dietary pattern.
• The longest life gained in females was observed for the AMED (Alternate Mediterranean Diet) dietary pattern.
• Life expectancy gains were calculated at age 45 years.

DRRD showed slightly stronger associations with mortality and life expectancy than hPDI.

• Both DRRD (Diabetes Risk Reduction Diet) and hPDI (healthful Plant-based Diet Index) were among the five dietary patterns assessed.
• The paper reports DRRD showing 'slightly stronger associations than hPDI' for both mortality and life expectancy outcomes.

The significant associations between healthy dietary patterns and life expectancy remained when accounting for genetic susceptibility to longevity.

• Longevity genes were incorporated into the analysis to assess whether genetic susceptibility modified the dietary associations.
• The associations between all five dietary patterns and mortality/life expectancy were maintained after accounting for longevity genetic factors.
• The authors concluded that benefits of healthy dietary patterns in prolonging life expectancy hold 'regardless of longevity genes.'