A new study has found that people who do not eat meat may be less likely to reach the age of 100 compared with meat eaters. The research tracked over 5,000 Chinese adults aged 80 and older from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which began in 1998. By 2018, those following diets without meat were less likely to become centenarians.
However, experts caution that the findings do not undermine the well-established health benefits of plant-based diets for younger adults. The study focused on individuals aged 80 and above, whose nutritional needs differ significantly from younger people. As people age, energy expenditure drops, and muscle mass, bone density, and appetite often decline, increasing the risk of malnutrition and frailty.
Importantly, the lower likelihood of reaching 100 among non-meat eaters was only observed in underweight participants. No such association was found in older adults of healthy weight. Being underweight in older age is already linked to higher risks of frailty and death, suggesting body weight is a key factor.
The study also found that non-meat eaters who included fish, dairy, or eggs in their diets were just as likely to live to 100 as meat eaters. These foods provide essential nutrients for muscle and bone health, such as high-quality protein, vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D. The researchers suggest that modest amounts of animal-source foods may help prevent undernutrition and loss of lean muscle mass in very old age.
Overall, the findings highlight that nutrition should be tailored to life stage, with older adults focusing on maintaining muscle mass and preventing weight loss rather than solely preventing long-term diseases.
