The Study
Animal protein intake is inversely associated with mortality in older adults: the InCHIANTI study.
This study watched a group of older people for 20 years and noticed that those who ate more animal protein (like meat and dairy) tended to live longer. But it didn't make them eat more protein—it just watched what they already ate. So we can't say protein made them live longer, just that the two things happened together.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Scientists followed older adults for 20 years to see if eating more meat or plants affected how long they lived.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 560 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Even after accounting for exercise, other foods, and health problems, the link between more animal protein and longer life stayed strong — but it doesn't prove meat causes longer life.
- 2People who ate more animal protein (like dairy and processed meats) were 4% less likely to die from any cause and 7% less likely to die from heart disease for every 1% increase in animal protein in their diet.
- 3Eating more plant protein (mostly cereal) didn't help or hurt.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Year
2021
Authors
T. Meroño, R. Zamora-Ros, Nicole Hidalgo-Liberona, Montserrat Rabassa, S. Bandinelli, L. Ferrucci, M. Fedecostante, A. Cherubini, C. Andrés-Lacueva
Related Content
Claims (6)
Eating more or less total dietary protein does not change the risk of dying from any cause or from heart disease.
Among people aged 75 and older, those who consume a higher proportion of animal protein relative to their total daily calories have a lower risk of dying from any cause or from cardiovascular disease over 20 years, compared to those with lower animal protein intake, after accounting for other lifestyle and health factors.
In older adults, higher intake of plant protein is associated with lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease only among those who do not have high blood pressure at the start of the observation period.
In older adults, consuming more animal protein is linked to a lower risk of death, and this link remains even when accounting for how closely people follow a Mediterranean diet.
Over 20 years, older adults who eat more plant protein from sources like cereals do not live longer or shorter lives than those who eat less, after accounting for their overall diet, health conditions, and lifestyle habits.
In older adults, most animal protein comes from dairy and processed meats, and these food sources, not the type of protein, are linked to health outcomes.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.