@article{2989166,
    title = "A dietary pattern rich in olive oil and raw vegetables is associated with lower mortality in Italian elderly subjects",
    author = "Masala, G. and Ceroti, M. and Pala, V. and Krogh, V. and Vineis, P. and Sacerdote, C. and Saieva, C. and Salvini, S. and Sieri, S. and Berrino, F. and Panico, S. and Mattiello, A. and Tumino, R. and Giurdanella, M.C. and Bamia, C. and Trichopoulou, A. and Riboli, E. and Palli, D.",
    journal = "British Journal of Nutrition",
    year = "2007",
    volume = "98",
    number = "2",
    pages = "406-415",
    issn = "0007-1145, 1475-2662",
    doi = "10.1017/S0007114507704981",
    keywords = "olive oil, adult;  age distribution;  aged;  article;  bread;  caloric intake;  cohort analysis;  controlled study;  diet;  exploratory research;  factorial analysis;  feeding behavior;  female;  follow up;  food intake;  hazard ratio;  human;  Italy;  lifestyle;  male;  meat;  mortality;  nutritional requirement;  pasta;  proportional hazards model;  prospective study;  raw food;  sex ratio;  tomato;  vegetable;  wine, Aged;  Aging;  Animals;  Dietary Carbohydrates;  Dietary Fats;  Dietary Fats, Unsaturated;  Female;  Food Habits;  Humans;  Italy;  Male;  Meat;  Middle Aged;  Mortality;  Plant Oils;  Poultry;  Prospective Studies;  Vegetables, Animalia;  Lycopersicon esculentum",
    abstract = "Dietary habits play an important role in healthy ageing. We have investigated the role of dietary patterns on overall mortality in a large series of Italian elderly, recruited in five EPIC cohorts in Northern (Varese and Turin), Central (Florence) and Southern Italy (Naples and Ragusa). A total of 5611 subjects (72.6% women) aged 60 years or older, enrolled in 1993-1998, were prospectively followed (median 6.2 years), with 152 deaths (98 women). Four major dietary patterns were identified by using an exploratory factor analysis based on dietary information collected at enrolment. The associations between these dietary patterns and overall mortality were evaluated by Cox models adjusted for potential confounders. The 'Olive Oil & Salad' pattern, characterised by a high consumption of olive oil, raw vegetables, soups and poultry, emerged as being inversely associated with overall mortality in both crude and adjusted models. After adjustment for gender, age and caloric intake, overall mortality was reduced by approximately 50% in the highest quartile and a significant trend emerged (P=0.008). This association persisted after adjusting for several additional confounders (hazard ratio (HR) 0.50; 95 % CI 0.29, 0.86; P for trend = 0.02). An association of the 'Pasta & Meat' pattern (characterised by pasta, tomato sauce, red meat, processed meat, added animal fat, white bread and wine) with increased overall mortality was also suggested, but only for the highest quartile in a multivariate model. Dietary recommendations aimed at the Italian elderly population should support a dietary pattern characterised by a high consumption of olive oil, raw vegetables and poultry. © The Authors 2007."
}