Associations Between Dietary Patterns And The Incidence Of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Cohort Study
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious and progressive lung disease that often affects older adults, and there are not many known ways to prevent it. While we know that healthy eating can help prevent many chronic illnesses, its specific role in IPF has been less clear. A recent study sheds light on this connection by investigating how different healthy eating habits might influence the risk of developing IPF.
The researchers looked at data from nearly 200,000 individuals, analyzing their dietary patterns using scores for three well-known healthy diets: DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Score), and MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay). These diets emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting processed foods and unhealthy fats.
The findings revealed a significant link: individuals who followed these healthy dietary patterns more closely had a lower risk of developing IPF. Interestingly, a portion of this protective effect was attributed to what scientists call “phenotypic age acceleration.” This refers to how quickly a person’s biological age is advancing compared to their chronological age. In simpler terms, healthy eating appears to slow down the biological aging process, which in turn contributes to a lower risk of IPF.
This research suggests that promoting healthy eating habits could be a valuable strategy in reducing the burden of age-related lung diseases like IPF in older populations. It underscores the broad impact of diet on our overall health, including the health of our lungs as we age.
Source: link to paper