Dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes and functional limitations and disability in a biracial cohort: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

BACKGROUND: Dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes may be associated with functional limitations and disability through their role in muscle function, osteoporosis, and prevention of the oxidative damage associated with aging and chronic disease. OBJECTIVE: The associations between dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes and functional limitations and disability were examined in African Americans and whites (baseline age: 45-64 y; n=9404) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. DESIGN: Logistic regression analyses were used to ascertain the associations between usual dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes obtained at baseline by using a food-frequency questionnaire and lower-extremity function, activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental ADLs (IADLs) self-reported approximately 9 y later in models stratified by race and sex. RESULTS: Baseline dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes tended to be inversely associated with impaired lower-extremity function, ADLs, and IADLs approximately 9 y later, particularly in African American women. For example, in African American women, baseline dairy intakes were inversely associated with impaired ADLs and IADLs [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.60 (0.40, 0.90) and 0.69 (0.48, 0.98) in the 3rd and 1st tertiles of intake, respectively; P for trend<0.05]. Combined baseline intakes of fruit and vegetables were also inversely associated with impaired lower-extremity function, ADLs, and IADLs [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.67 (0.47, 0.95), 0.52 (0.36, 0.76), and 0.64 (0.45, 0.90), respectively; P for trend<0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes may be inversely associated with functional limitations and disability. Further research is needed to ascertain the effect of diet on subsequent functional limitations and disability.