Dietary Preferences Linked to Mortality in 1160312 Chinese Adults

Background: The dietary habits of 1,160,312 adults in China were evaluated to determine their association with mortality. Given the high burden of diet-related diseases globally, understanding these links can inform public health strategies and dietary guidelines.

Method: This study was a cohort analysis conducted over 10 years among Chinese adults, assessing dietary preferences through food frequency questionnaires. The sample included a diverse population, with a focus on different dietary patterns. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality rates, analyzed using Cox proportional hazards modeling.

Results: The analysis revealed that individuals adhering to a plant-based diet had a 20% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those consuming a Western diet (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.75 - 0.85, P<0.001). Secondary analyses indicated a 15% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality (P<0.01) among plant-based dieters.

Conclusion: These findings support the implementation of plant-based dietary recommendations in public health policies to reduce mortality. Further research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms and the applicability of these findings across different populations, as this study is observational and dependent on self-reported dietary data.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2025.108