中国青海省の高齢者における肉類摂取頻度と健康との関連

Abstract

Objective: Meat is one of the most popular foods seen at the daily meal for Tibetan highlanders. However, little is reported about the actual frequency of meat intake and its relation to their health. Meat intake is known to associate with aging, thus we aim to examine the frequency of meat intake and its relation to health of the elderly highlanders in Qinghai plateau, China. Methods: The study population consisted of 238 community-dwelling elderly subjects aged 60 years or more (174 Han elderly subjects, 64 Tibetan ones). Food questionnaire was carried out using an 11-item Food Diversity Score Kyoto (FDSK-11). Health status including Activities of daily living (ADL), screening-based depression and quality of life (QOL) were interviewed. Results: High frequency of meat intake was found in Tibetan elderly (about 70% of the Tibetan subjects eat meat everyday) compared to the Han elderly living in the same area. The higher frequency of meat intake was related to older age in Tibetan subjects, which is opposite result of Japanese ones. ADL was significantly higher in the Han elderly with higher frequency of meat intake than those with lower frequency, but not in Tibetan ones. A close association was found between frequency of meat intake and financial satisfaction in Tibetan elderly subjects, but no relation were seen between depression, QOL and frequency of meat intake. Conclusion: Frequency of meat intake and its relation to health in Tibetan subjects had appeared a different character from Han and Japanese ones. Cultural tradition on foods seems to be well influenced in Tibetan elderly highlanders.