Is a Meat-Free Diet Healthy for Older Adults? A Chinese Study Questions the Vegetarian Approach in Old Age

A study presented at Nutrition 2025 by researchers from Tufts University and several Chinese institutions examined the effects of vegetarian diets on healthy aging among older adults. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), the researchers analyzed 2,858 individuals aged 60 to 79 who had a high potential of reaching age 80 without chronic diseases or functional or cognitive decline.

Surprisingly, the results showed that older adults who followed strictly vegetarian diets had lower chances of aging healthily compared to those who followed omnivorous diets. The model, adjusted for multiple factors, indicated a 35% lower likelihood of meeting the healthy aging criteria among vegetarians 

The analysis also revealed that those following pesco-vegetarian diets — vegetarianism that includes fish — showed a more favorable profile in terms of physical and mental health. Moreover, participants on omnivorous diets rich in plant-based foods (high PDI index) demonstrated better healthy aging outcomes than strict vegetarians.

The study suggests that a strict vegetarian diet may not be optimal for promoting healthy aging in the older Chinese population. In contrast, a diet primarily based on plants but including moderate amounts of animal products, such as fish, could offer better health outcomes.

Source: Nature