Dietary guidelines are developed to promote health and reduce
the risk of chronic diseases with the national dietary guidelines for
the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia including
recommendations for older age groups. Based on the results of this
secondary analysis, with the exception of moderate-high intakes of
‘red meat and protein alternatives’, the dietary habits of older
adults do not influence development or death from either cancer or
CVD. However, to our knowledge there have been no investigations
into the effect of dietary patterns, on the incidence of other chronic
disease such as type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidaemia and should be
a consideration for further research in this area, with any similar
findings in relation to the development of chronic lifestyle diseases
strengthening the evidence for liberalisation of dietary guidelines
for older adults.