Association between substituting macronutrients and all-cause mortality: a network meta-analysis of prospective observational studies
Journal article, 2024
Background: Suboptimal diet quality is a key risk factor for premature death. Assuming relatively stable energy intake among individuals, changes in nutrient intakes occur by exchanging different nutrients. Therefore we aimed to examine the association of isocaloric substitution of dietary (macro)nutrients with all-cause mortality using network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: For this systematic review and NMA of prospective observational studies MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception to February 13th, 2024. Eligible studies reported substitution analyses for quantity and/or quality of macronutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fatty acids on all-cause mortality. Random-effects NMA were used in order to evaluate the pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of substituting each included nutrient with another. We assessed risk of bias with the ROBINS-E tool, and the certainty of evidence (CoE) using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023450706). Findings: Thirty-nine studies with 1,737,644 participants, 395,491 deaths, 297 direct comparisons, and seven nutrient-specific networks were included. Moderate CoE was found for an association with lower mortality risk when replacing 5% of energy intake from carbohydrates with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; HR: 0.90; 95%CI: 0.84, 0.95), n-6 PUFA (0.85; 0.77, 0.94), n-3 PUFA (0.72; 0.59, 0.86), and plant monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA; 0.90; 0.85, 0.95), and when replacing 5% of energy from saturated fatty acids (SFA) and trans-fatty acids (TFA), with PUFA, MUFA, and plant-MUFA (HRrange: 0.75 to 0.91). A lower mortality risk was additionally found when 5% of animal-MUFA was replaced with plant-MUFA, and when replacing animal protein, and SFA with plant protein (HRrange: 0.81 to 0.87, moderate CoE). Interpretation: Our results provide practical knowledge for public health professionals and can inform upcoming dietary guidelines. The beneficial association of increasing PUFA (both n-3 and n-6) and (plant-) MUFA intake while reducing carbohydrates, SFA and TFA, along with replacing animal protein and animal-MUFA with plant-based sources of protein and fat (MUFA) on the all-cause mortality risk, underscores the importance of plant-based dietary recommendations. Funding: None.
Macronutrients
Mortality
Replacement
Network meta-analysis
Substitution
Author
Sabina Wallerer
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Theodoros Papakonstantinou
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Jakub Morze
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Food and Nutrition Science
Nicolaus Copernicus University (SGMK)
Julia Stadelmaier
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Eva Kiesswetter
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Lea Gorenflo
Cochrane Global Ageing
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Janett Barbaresko
German Diabetes Center
Edyta Szczerba
German Diabetes Center
Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Manuela Neuenschwander
German Diabetes Center
Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
William Bell
Queen's University Belfast
Tilman Kühn
University of Vienna
Medical University of Vienna
University Hospital Heidelberg
Queen's University Belfast
Szimonetta Lohner
University of Pécs
Marta Guasch-Ferré
Harvard School of Public Health
University of Copenhagen
Georg Hoffmann
University of Vienna
Joerg J. Meerpohl
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Cochrane Global Ageing
Sabrina Schlesinger
Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
German Diabetes Center
Adriani Nikolakopoulou
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
Lukas Schwingshackl
Universitats Klinikum Freiburg und Medizinische Fakultat
eClinicalMedicine
25895370 (eISSN)
Vol. 75 102807Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Nutrition and Dietetics
DOI
10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102807
PubMed
39296946