The Role of Dietary Patterns in the Contribution of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Community-Dwelling Older Chinese Adults in Hong Kong

Objective We examined the influence of various dietary patterns on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) expressed as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), taking into account demographics and lifestyle risk factors. Design Prospective cohort study. Participants and methods We conducted multivariate linear regression analyses using available data from a cohort of community-dwelling older Chinese adults (752 men, 483 women) in Hong Kong. Baseline interviewer-administered questionnaires covered dietary intake estimation and dietary pattern generation from the food frequency questionnaire, demographic and lifestyle factors, self-reported medical history, as well as frailty status. VO2peak at the 7-year follow-up was measured using symptom-limited maximal exercise testing on an electrically braked bicycle ergometer. Results In men, baseline Diet Quality Index–International (DQI-I) score (β = 0.044, P = .013) and Okinawan diet score (β = 0.265, P = .014) was independently associated with age-adjusted VO2peak at the 7-year follow-up. The significant association was only retained for the Okinawan diet score in the multivariate adjusted model (β = 0.227, P = .039). Dietary pattern scores including the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet score, Mediterranean Diet Score, and 3 other pattern scores derived by factor analysis were not associated with VO2peak. In women, none of the dietary pattern scores at baseline was associated with VO2peak in both the age-adjusted and multivariate-adjusted models. Conclusions/Implications A higher Okinawan diet score was associated with a higher 7-year CRF in community-dwelling Chinese older men. Further studies are warranted to examine the underlying mechanisms on how the Okinawan diet influences CRF.