The Association with Dietary Patterns and Risk of Anemia in Japanese Elderly

Abstract

Anemia is a risk factor for frailty. Although various factors can reduce the risk of anemia, information on dietary contributions is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association between anemia and eating patterns in Japanese elderly. Our study included 6,864 elderly individuals, aged $65 y, whose data were obtained from the 2010-2015 National Health and Nutritional Survey, Japan. Anemia was defined as whole blood hemoglobin concentrations ,13 g/dL in men, and ,12 g/dL in women. We classified eating patterns into 33 food groups, using food items obtained from dietary records, and identified three dietary patterns using principal component analysis method. Participants were assigned and divided into quartiles according to pattern-specific factor scores. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for anemia using multivariate logistic regression, and assigned the first quartile (minimum) as the reference. The overall prevalence of anemia was 17.1%. The meats and vegetables eating pattern was characterized by red meat and other vegetables, the Japanese eating pattern by rice and salted or pickled vegetables, and the fruits and vegetables eating pattern by fruits and green-yellow vegetables. Participants in the highest meats and vegetables eating pattern quartile had a 20% lower risk of anemia than those in the lowest quartile (OR 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-1.00); the Japanese eating pattern participants had a 20% higher risk of anemia (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.06-1.53). The fruits and vegetables eating pattern participants had no significant change in their risk of anemia. This study may indicate that consuming a high red meat diet prevents anemia in elderly Japanese individuals.

Association between locomotive syndrome and anemia among community‐dwelling older adults

“…We investigated the association between LS and anemia among community‐dwelling older adults. In the LS group, the prevalence of anemia was 23.0%, which is higher than the 10% 19 or 15.2% 20 prevalence reported in previous studies on older adults aged ≥65. After adjusting for confounding factors, older adults with anemia had significantly higher rate of LS than those without anemia.…”

Anemia in older adults as a geriatric syndrome: A review

“…18 The prevalence of anemia increases with age, is higher in men than in women 17 and is higher in blacks people than in white people, although most of the individuals classified as having anemia using the WHO criteria only have mild anemia. 18 The prevalence of anemia in older adults has been reported to be 17.1% (>65 years), 19 22.3% (69-91 years) 20 in Japan and 12.9% (>60 years) in the rural areas of China, 21 which are comparable to the prevalence rates in Western countries.…”

Dietary Patterns and Association with Anemia in Children Aged 9–16 Years in Guangzhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Vegetarians are more likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia [50]. Studies in China [51] and Japan [11] have both shown that a rice-based diet has a harmful effect on anemia. However, a study in India showed that increased consumption of coarse cereals could reduce anemia prevalence in Indian women.…”

“…A study in Mexico found that the Western dietary pattern (mainly characterized by sweet drinks, salty snacks, charcuterie, fast food, and cereals/tubers) was positively associated with anemia in girls aged between 12 and 19 years [10]. A study in Japan found that a dietary pattern including vegetables, condiments, mushrooms, and red meat was negatively correlated with anemia in elderly individuals aged ≥ 65 years [11]. Although there have been studies investigating the association between dietary patterns and anemia, few articles specifically highlight the characteristics of the dietary patterns of Cantonese cuisine in South China, which is a classic example of Eastern healthy dietary patterns.…”