Proteins linked to the EAT-Lancet diet track with death risk
In 9,623 people followed for a median of 24 years, nine diet-related proteins were associated with cardiovascular disease and death, and eight with death alone.
In an observational study, researchers analysed 9,623 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants who had blood protein data collected between 1993 and 1995. They used multivariable linear regression to assess links between 4,955 plasma proteins and scores on the Planetary Health Diet Index, which reflects the EAT-Lancet diet. The team split participants into a discovery group of 6,415 people and a replication group of 3,208 people.
Overall, 154 proteins were associated with the diet score, and 74 replicated. Researchers then tracked participants through 2022. During a median follow-up of 21 years, 3,401 cardiovascular disease events occurred. During a median follow-up of 24 years, 5,899 deaths occurred. Of the 74 diet-related proteins, nine were associated with both cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in both groups. An additional eight proteins were associated with all-cause mortality alone.
Why it matters
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of illness and death with advancing age. Identifying plasma proteins linked to the EAT-Lancet diet may help uncover biological pathways that affect long-term survival.
Caveats
As an observational study, the analysis can show only associations and cannot prove that the diet or the identified proteins caused changes in health outcomes. The findings are also based on participants from a single cohort with protein data measured at one study visit.
From the paper
- Participants
The final sample consisted of 9623 participants.
- Follow-up
During a median follow-up of 21 years (25th–75th percentile: 12–27), 3401 incident CVD cases occurred.
Results, Prospective analysis of proteins and incident CVD and all-cause mortality
- Result
… the strongest positive association was observed for C–C motif chemokine 18 (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.33), whereas the strongest inverse association was observed for neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.73).
Results, Prospective analysis of proteins and incident CVD and all-cause mortality
- Limitation
First, dietary intake was self-reported, which may introduce bias and exposure misclassification, and the ARIC food frequency questionnaire did not assess soy foods or soy-based products.
Quoted word for word from the full text on pubs.rsc.org.
