Not All Carbs Are Equal: Study Shows Which Ones Help Women Age Better
New Delhi: A new study published in JAMA Network Open has found that higher intakes of high-quality carbohydrates and dietary fiber during midlife are significantly linked to better physical and mental health in older women. The study reinforces the long-term importance of diet quality in promoting healthy aging.
The researchers analyzed data from more than 47,000 women, collected through the Nurses’ Health Study between 1984 and 2016. Participants, who were between 70 and 93 years old by 2016, completed food-frequency questionnaires every four years. These questionnaires provided detailed insights into their intake of total carbohydrates, refined and high-quality carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and measures such as glycemic index and load. High-quality carbohydrates included those from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Healthy ageing in the study was defined as the absence of 11 major chronic diseases, intact cognitive and physical functioning, and good mental health, as reported by the participants. Among the cohort, 3,706 women met these criteria. The study found that midlife intakes of high-quality carbohydrates and total dietary fibre were associated with a 6 to 37 percent greater likelihood of healthy aging. Conversely, higher consumption of refined carbohydrates and starchy vegetables was linked to a 13 percent lower chance of aging healthily.
"Our results are consistent with other evidence linking consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes with lower risks of chronic diseases, and now we see the association with physical and cognitive function outcomes," said Qi Sun, senior author and associate professor at Harvard. The authors noted the need for more diverse study populations in future research to better understand these associations across different demographic groups.
Reference: Ardisson Korat AV, Duscova E, Shea MK, et al. Dietary Carbohydrate Intake, Carbohydrate Quality, and Healthy Aging in Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2511056. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11056
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