Report on Dietary Patterns and Their Impact on Chronic Disease in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A longitudinal study by the Karolinska Institutet provides critical data on the role of diet in the health of aging populations. The findings strongly support the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Study Overview and Methodology

Research Parameters

The research analyzed the health outcomes of over 2,400 older adults, with an average baseline age of 71.5 years, over a 15-year period. The primary objective was to correlate dietary patterns with the accumulation of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Dietary Patterns Investigated

Participants’ diets were categorized into four distinct patterns:

• Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI): A diet focused on foods known to lower the risk of chronic diseases, such as fish, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Alternative Mediterranean diet (AMED): A diet emphasizing plant-based foods and healthy fats, with modified recommendations for items like red meat.
• Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND): A hybrid diet concentrating on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats to support neurocognitive health.
• Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII): A pro-inflammatory diet characterized by high consumption of red meat, processed foods, and sugary drinks.

Key Findings and Correlation with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The study’s results offer a clear evidence base for achieving SDG Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and promotion of well-being.

Impact on Chronic Disease Accumulation

1. Slower Disease Progression: Individuals adhering to the AHEI, AMED, or MIND diets experienced a significantly slower rate of chronic disease accumulation.
2. Reduced Multimorbidity: Over the 15-year follow-up, participants consuming the healthiest diets developed up to two fewer chronic diseases compared to those with the least adherence.
3. Increased NCD Risk: Conversely, those following a pro-inflammatory (EDII) diet were more likely to develop multiple chronic conditions over time.

Specific Health Outcomes

• Adherence to healthy dietary patterns was associated with a slower rate of cardiovascular disease.
• The MIND and AHEI diets demonstrated a strong protective effect against neuropsychiatric diseases, such as dementia, particularly among the oldest participants.
• This suggests that adopting healthy dietary habits is a viable preventative health strategy, even later in life, directly contributing to the well-being targets of SDG 3.

Implications for SDG 2 and SDG 12

Advancing Nutritional Security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger)

The research highlights the importance of diet quality, a core component of SDG Target 2.2, which seeks to end all forms of malnutrition. The recommended diets, rich in vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats, are models for the nutrient-dense consumption patterns required to ensure healthy lives for aging populations.

Promoting Responsible Consumption (SDG 12)

The dietary patterns found to be beneficial for human health also align with principles of sustainable consumption. The emphasis on plant-based foods and reduced consumption of red and processed meats, as seen in the AHEI and AMED diets, corresponds with production systems that have a lower environmental footprint. The pro-inflammatory diet represents an unsustainable consumption pattern that is detrimental to both human and planetary health.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Expert analysis confirms that diet quality is a critical, modifiable risk factor in slowing the accumulation of chronic diseases among older adults. While changing long-standing dietary habits presents a challenge, the benefits are substantial.

Strategic Dietary Recommendations for Public Health

To advance public health and contribute to the SDGs, the following dietary shifts are recommended for all patients, including older adults:

• Reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates and added sugars.
• Emphasize the consumption of protein and vegetables.
• Prioritize diets rich in whole grains, fruits, nuts, and healthy fats.
• Discourage consumption of pro-inflammatory foods such as red meat, processed products, and sugary beverages.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in older adults. It discusses how dietary choices can significantly impact health outcomes, specifically in relation to conditions like heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. The study’s findings that healthy diets lead to a “slower progression of chronic health issues” and fewer overall diseases are central to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   While not focused on hunger, the article is highly relevant to this goal’s emphasis on ending all forms of malnutrition. The article contrasts healthy dietary patterns (MIND, AHEI, AMED) with unhealthy, pro-inflammatory diets (EDII). This highlights the importance of nutritional quality, not just food quantity. The discussion of diets “high in red meat, processed foods, and sugary drinks” leading to chronic illness is a clear example of malnutrition in the form of poor-quality diets, which this SDG aims to address.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

     The article’s core focus is on how dietary interventions can prevent or slow the progression of NCDs. It explicitly mentions that healthier diets reduce the risk of “heart disease, dementia, and diabetes.” The study’s conclusion that “diet quality is a modifiable risk factor in slowing the rate of chronic disease accumulation among older adults” directly supports the prevention aspect of this target. The inclusion of dementia and neuropsychiatric diseases also aligns with the target’s goal of promoting mental health and well-being.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.

     The article directly addresses the nutritional needs of “older persons” or “older adults.” It examines the impact of different dietary patterns on their health, distinguishing between healthy diets rich in “vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats” and unhealthy diets. The research demonstrates a direct link between poor nutrition (pro-inflammatory diets) and the development of multiple chronic conditions, which is a form of malnutrition relevant to this target.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 3.4:

   • Implied Indicator: Prevalence and incidence of specific non-communicable diseases.

     The article measures the impact of diet by tracking the development of chronic illnesses. It states that healthy eaters experienced a “slower rate of heart disease and neuropsychiatric diseases such as dementia.” The number of diseases is also used as a metric, noting that participants on healthy diets had “up to two fewer diseases.” This implies that tracking the prevalence and incidence rates of heart disease, diabetes, and dementia would be a key indicator of progress.

   • Implied Indicator: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease (Official Indicator 3.4.1).

     Although the article focuses on disease accumulation rather than mortality, the diseases it highlights (heart disease, diabetes) are major contributors to premature mortality. By demonstrating a method to reduce the risk and progression of these diseases, the article implies that tracking the mortality rate from these conditions is the ultimate measure of success for such dietary interventions.

2. For Target 2.2:

   • Implied Indicator: Prevalence of malnutrition (e.g., diet-related NCDs) in older adults.

     The article uses adherence to different dietary indices (MIND, AHEI, AMED vs. EDII) as a proxy for nutritional quality. The outcome measured is the “accumulation of chronic disease.” Therefore, the prevalence of diet-related chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease in the older adult population can serve as an implied indicator of malnutrition, as defined by the negative health consequences of a poor-quality diet.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: medicalnewstoday.com