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. 2024 Sep;63(6):2281-2290.
doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03412-z. Epub 2024 May 18.

Higher plant-derived nitrate intake is associated with lower odds of frailty in a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older women

Eleanor Hayes  1 , Elsa Dent  2 , Oliver M Shannon  3 , Lie Zhou Zhong  4 , Trent Bozanich  4 , Lauren C Blekkenhorst  4   5 , Kun Zhu  5   6 , Catherine P Bondonno  4   5 , Mario Siervo  7 , Emiel O Hoogendijk  8   9 , Jonathan M Hodgson  4   5 , Richard L Prince  5 , Joshua R Lewis  4   5 , Marc Sim  10   11
Affiliations

Higher plant-derived nitrate intake is associated with lower odds of frailty in a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older women

Eleanor Hayes et al. Eur J Nutr. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: Dietary nitrate intake is inversely related to numerous contributors towards frailty, including cardiovascular disease and poor physical function. Whether these findings extend to frailty remain unknown. We investigated if habitual nitrate intake, derived from plants or animal-based foods, was cross-sectionally associated with frailty in women.

Methods: Community-dwelling older Australian women (n = 1390, mean age 75.1 ± 2.7 years) completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Nitrate concentrations in food were obtained from international nitrate databases. We adopted the Rockwood frailty index (FI) of cumulative deficits comprising 33 variables across multiple health domains (scored 0 to 1), which predicts increased hospitalisation and mortality risk. A FI ≥ 0.25 indicated frailty. Cross-sectional associations between nitrate intake (total plant and animal nitrate, separately) and frailty were analysed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models (including lifestyle factors), as part of restricted cubic splines.

Results: A non-linear inverse relationship was observed between total plant nitrate intake and frailty. Compared to women with the lowest plant nitrate intake (Quartile [Q]1), women with greater intakes in Q2 (OR 0.69 95%CI 0.56-0.84), Q3 (OR 0.67 95%CI 0.50-0.90) and Q4 (OR 0.66 95%CI 0.45-0.98) had lower odds for frailty. A nadir in the inverse association was observed once intakes reached ~ 64 mg/d (median Q2). No relationship was observed between total animal nitrate and frailty.

Conclusion: Community-dwelling older women consuming low amounts of plant-derived nitrate were more likely to present with frailty. Consuming at least one daily serving (~ 75 g) of nitrate-rich green leafy vegetables may be beneficial in preventing frailty.

Keywords: Cumulative deficits; Frailty index; Nitric oxide; Plant-foods; Womens health.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Multivariable-adjusted relationship between dietary nitrate derived from (a) plants and (b) animals with the frailty index obtained by generalized regression models. Shading represents 95% confidence intervals. The rug plot along the bottom of each graph depicts each observation. Models adjusted for age, smoking history, energy intake, protein and alcohol intake (Model 2).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Odds ratios from multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models with restricted cubic spline curves describing the association between nitrate derived from plant (a) and animal sources (b) with the presence of frailty. Odds ratios are based on models adjusted for age, smoking history, energy, protein and alcohol intake (Model 2). The odds ratio compares the specific intake of nitrate (horizontal axis) to the median intake in the lowest quartile (44.7 mg/d for plant nitrate and 1.6 mg/d for animal nitrate). Shading represents 95% confidence regions. The rug plot along the bottom of each graph depicts an observation
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