Japan Assessed Impact Of Carbs And Fats On Longevity – The Results Would Shock You

Involving 34,893 men and 46,440 women, ranging in age from 35 to 69 years, a new study from Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has delivered interesting insights into how going to extremes with carbohydrates and fats can shorten one’s lifespan.

All the study participants were in fit condition at the time of recruitment, with the average body mass index (BMI) for men at 23.7 and 22.2 for women, within the healthy range. Nevertheless, the findings painted a complex picture of healthy eating owing to differences.

When it came to longevity, male participants who got fewer than 40% of their daily calories from carbohydrates and women who got more than 65% of their calories from carbohydrates were at a higher risk of all-cause mortality, the researchers found.

Meanwhile, men who got 35% of their daily calories from dietary fats faced an elevated risk of cancer and cardiovascular mortality. But for women, fat consumption was a better way of reducing the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, especially through saturated fats.

Different Dietary Practices Could Affect Longevity In West Differently

Overall, the researchers delivered a complex picture, suggesting going to any extreme in terms of carbohydrates and fats may negatively affect longevity. In addition, the study involved people in Japan, implying the findings may or may not apply as well to Western populations.

According to clinical nutrition epidemiologist Prof Linda Van Horn, who was not involved in the research: “[The findings do not] suggest anything about [fad diets].” She expressed concerns over Americans potentially taking the wrong message.

Adding, “…nor should these studies [be] conducted using different methods across different populations and mostly not in the United States with its high rate of obesity, intake of ultra-processed foods and generally low nutrient adequacy,” said Dr Van Horn.

In the US, 42.4% of adults qualify as having obesity and 30.7% qualify as having overweight. It appears a similar study that considers the local dietary and health landscape could provide more actionable findings for the people in the West.