Digging through my centenarian files... The following Italian
study has some interesting info.  I'm not sure why some of the
decimal numbers came out strange but the macronutrient ratios are
noteworthy.  The mean protein intake was about 20%, with carbs
and fats at 60% and 20% respectively.  This is more protein than
average for just about anywhere in the modern world, but less fat
than average in the Western world.  By American and European
standards, but not Asian standards, this would be a low-fat diet.

Todd Moody
[log in to unmask]


Dietary patterns in centenarians

Golosio F, Bauco C, Cinti AM, Borriello C, Raganato P, Martella
S, Ettorre E, Cacciafesta M, Marigliano V, Cat.

Geriatria e Gerontologia, Università La Sapienza, Roma,
Italy

Nutrition is a major contributor to health throughout the life
cycle, but little is known about the specific role of nutrition
in the oldest old. These preliminary findings of our research
about the role of dietary factors in extreme longevity regard a
group of 70 Centenarians (17 Males and 53 Females) aged 100 to
108 (mean age: 101.631.92). Dietary information were collected by
questionnaire using a Dietary History method completed by
coloured photos to assess the actual nutrition and a Food
Frequency questionnaire to research about qualitative dietary
patterns in the past. Questionnaire includes information about
the most important factors which may limit the quantity or
quality of food ingested (socioeconomic status, living
arrangements, mobility impairment, chewing efficiency, taste and
smell sensivity, swallowing function etc.).  Mean energy intake
was 1470.63293.76 Kcal/day (males 1607.74299.56; females
1426.65286.21) with the sequent percentage contributions of
nutrients: Proteins 19.23.7%; carbohydrates 59.66.8%; total fats
21.26.0%. Mean protein intake was 52.4214.38 g/day (males
54.4413.56; females 51.7714.70); total fats 56.0917.26 g/day
(males 56.4512.76; females 55.9718.58); carbohydrates 165.7948.40
g/day (males 176.5648.34; females 162.3448.37). As regards to
important factors imparing the dietary patterns of Centenarians:
62.9% was edentolous and 56.5% had dental prosthesis; chewing and
swallowing efficiency is reported by 78.3% of the sample. 23.3%
And 20.3% of Centenarians had a decrease respectively in
olfactory sensitivity and in taste acuity.