Plant-based dietary patterns and frailty were examined in 8,628 older adults from the CLHLS, HRS and ELSA cohorts. Diet indices were derived from cohort-specific food-group data, and frailty from a multidomain deficit-accumulation index. Higher overall plant-based diet index was associated with lower frailty risk in all three cohorts (ORs 0.71-0.80). The unhealthful index was associated with higher risk (ORs 1.24-1.41); the healthful index was inversely associated only in ELSA. Network analysis showed nuts, vegetables and plant oils predominantly inversely associated with several frailty domains. Between-person dietary differences showed stronger associations than within-person changes, which limits inference about changing diet.
Why it is interesting: Diet quality, not plant content alone, is associated with frailty across three countries. The weak within-person signal shows how much of the association rests on differences between people.
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