Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a strong, independent predictor of frailty and mortality risk. This study evaluated the association of dietary patterns and frailty status in older adults with OD.
Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary patterns (DPs) characteristic of OD were derived using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Multiple logistic regressions adjusted for demographics and frailty risk factors assessed the association of DPs with two frailty metrics: the frailty index (FI) and physical frailty (PF).
Results: EFA yielded six distinct DPs in persons with OD. The protein/selenium (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.74-0.92], p = 0.041) and β-carotene/vitamin A DPs (OR 0.76 [95% CI 0.66-0.88], p = 0.028) were independently associated with frailty by FI. Only the protein/selenium DP (OR 0.82 [95% CI 0.74-0.92], p = 0.036) was associated with frailty by PF. No DPs were associated with either frailty measure in normosmic persons.
Conclusions: Dietary patterns high in protein/selenium and β-carotene/vitamin A are associated with lower frailty prevalence in adults with OD. While the relationship between OD and frailty is likely multifaceted, these findings suggest that dietary patterns are uniquely associated with frailty in older adults with OD.
Keywords: diet; frailty; nutrients; smell.