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, which tracked over 5,000 Chinese adults aged 80 and older, found that those following diets without meat were less likely to become centenarians by 2018.
However, experts caution that the findings do not necessarily undermine the well-established health benefits of plant-based diets for younger adults. The study focused on very old individuals, whose nutritional needs differ significantly from younger people. As we age, energy expenditure drops, muscle mass and bone density decline, and appetite often decreases, 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 later life is already strongly linked with increased 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 maintaining muscle and bone health, including high-quality protein, vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D.
The researchers suggest that including modest amounts of animal-source foods may help prevent undernutrition and loss of lean muscle mass in very old age, compared with strictly plant-based diets. The key message is that nutrition should be tailored to your stage of life, rather than one diet being universally superior.
