The 'vegetables first' dietary habit correlates with higher-level functional capacity in older adults with diabetes

Abstract Background Some studies suggest that the habit of eating vegetables may initially be correlated with maintenance of a higher-level functional capacity; however, such a correlation has not been demonstrated. This study aimed to correlate the habit of eating vegetables first and higher-level functional capacity in older adults with diabetes. Methods Patients aged ≥ 60 years who were treated at Japanese Red Cross Ise Hospital on an ambulatory basis were included in this study. A self-administered questionnaire using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) was used to evaluate higher-level functional capacity. Participants were instructed to answer the questionnaire regarding the order in which they consumed the mentioned food types, and based on their answers, they were classified into “no order of eating,” “carbohydrates first,” “protein first,” and “vegetables first” groups. Multiple regression analyses with the TMIG-IC score as a dependent variable and the order of eating as explanatory variables were used to determine the partial regression coefficients of the “vegetables first” dietary habit with higher-level functional capacity. Results This study included 346 patients. The adjusted partial regression coefficients of the “carbohydrates first,” “protein first,” and “vegetables first” dietary habits with the TMIG-IC score were 0.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], − 0.29 to 0.84), 0.17 (95% CI, − 0.54 to 0.90), and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.23 to 1.31), respectively. Conclusions The habit of eating vegetables first was correlated with higher-level functional capacity in older adults with diabetes.