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Plant‐based diets reduces the risk of chronic conditions. The interaction between protein source and other macronutrients—fat (F) and carbohydrate (C)—has yet to be investigated. The aim was to assess the main and interactive effects of protein‐source (plant vs. animal) and F:C (high or low) and the transition from an Australian diet to a whole food diet on various health markers in older individuals. This single‐blinded, parallel, randomised experimental trial used a 2 × 2 factorial design to compare pro‐vegetarian (70:30 plant to animal) versus omnivorous (50:50 plant to animal) diets at 14% protein and varying fat‐to‐carbohydrate ratios (high fat ~40% vs. low fat ~30%) over 4 weeks. Study foods were provided, alcohol consumption was discouraged, and dietary intake was determined through food records. Analysis included both RCT and observational data. Changes in appetite, palatability of diets, and dietary intake were assessed. Body composition, muscle strength, function, gut microbiome, and cardiometabolic health parameters were measured. Data from 113 (of the 128 randomised) individuals aged 65–75 years were analysed. Pro‐vegetarian diets reduced diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and glucose levels. Moreover, the overall sample exhibited increased short‐chain fatty acids and FGF21 levels, as well as improvements in body composition, function, and cardio‐metabolic parameters irrespective of dietary treatment. Transitioning to a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, fibre, and moderate protein was associated with improved health markers in older age, with added benefits from pro‐vegetarian diets. Further research on long‐term effects is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition and altered body composition are well-documented in chronic pulmonary diseases; however, investigation of nutritional status in interstitial lung disease (ILD) is limited. This study aimed to describe the nutritional status of ILD patients within three diagnostic groups and explore the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life (QoL).Methods: Consecutive patients attending an ILD clinic within a tertiary referral hospital in Sydney, Australia were studied. Weight, body-mass-index, anthropometrics, handgrip strength (HGS), subjective global assessment and QoL questionnaires (EQ-5D-5L and King's-Brief Interstitial-Lung-Disease 'K-BILD') were collected. Associations between nutritional status and QoL were analysed.Results: Ninety participants were recruited and categorised: (1) Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) (2) Connective-Tissue Disease associated-ILD (CTD-ILD) or (3) Other (non-IPF/non-CTD ILD). Median age was 66.5 (18) years. Four-percent of patients were underweight and 50% were overweight or obese. Median HGS was 71%-(25.3) of predicted and was correlated to all measures of QoL including EQ-5D health-state index (r = 0.376, p < 0.0001), patient-reported EQ-5D-5L Visual Analogue Score (r = 0.367, p < 0.0001) and K-BILD total score (r = 0.346, p = 0.001). Twenty-three percent of the variance in K-BILD total score (F = 12.888, p < 0.0001) was explained by HGS (ß = 0.273, p = 0.006) and forced vital capacity % predicted (ß = 0.331, p = 0.001).Conclusions: Although a small number of ILD patients were malnourished, a large proportion of the cohort were overweight or obese. Handgrip strength was compromised and correlated to QoL. Future research with a larger cohort is required to explore the role of HGS as a predictor of QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]