Context: The average Japanese lifespan became the longest in the world in 1986. What factors give the Japanese this longevity? Washoku, or the traditional Japanese diet, is respected globally for its nutritionally-balanced and healthy eating habits. This uniquely Japanese way of eating may be one factor that helps extend the Japanese lifespan. Objective: To explain the nutrition intake characteristics of today's Japanese elderly compared with their children's generation and to discuss the association between nutrition intake and various diseases and health issues in the general adult population. Methods: This study compared the characteristics of nutrition status and nutrition intake among today's elderly and their children's generation by using National Health and Nutrition Survey scores. Results: Japanese elderly had high adequacy in all nutrients as well as a high intake of potatoes, pulses, vegetables, fruits, algae, and fish and shellfish compared with their children's generation. Conclusion: Nutrition intake among the Japanese elderly had the characteristics of washoku, but these characteristics were not passed on to the next generation. Extension of the average lifespan and improved health could be achieved by modifying nutrition intake, even after reaching the age of onset of lifestyle- and age-related diseases, typically the 50s.

中文翻译：

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日本老年人的营养摄入：基于全国健康和营养调查得分的代际比较。

背景信息：1986年，日本人的平均寿命成为世界上最长的人。哪些因素赋予了日本人如此长的寿命？Washoku或日本传统饮食，因其营养均衡和健康的饮食习惯而享誉全球。日本人独特的饮食方式可能是有助于延长日本人寿命的因素之一。目的：解释当今日本老年人及其子女一代的营养摄入特征，并探讨营养摄入与成年人群中各种疾病和健康问题之间的关系。方法：本研究使用国家健康和营养调查得分，比较了当今老年人及其子女的营养状况和营养摄入量特征。结果：与他们的孩子相比，日本老年人的所有营养素含量都很高，而且土豆，豆类，蔬菜，水果，藻类以及鱼类和贝类的摄入量也很高。结论：日本老年人的营养摄入具有和食的特征，但这些特征并未传递给下一代。甚至在达到与生活方式和年龄有关的疾病的发病年龄（通常为50岁）后，通过调整营养摄入量即可延长平均寿命并改善健康状况。但是这些特性并未传递给下一代。即使达到与生活方式和年龄有关的疾病的发病年龄（通常为50岁），也可以通过调整营养摄入量来延长平均寿命并改善健康状况。但是这些特性并未传递给下一代。即使达到与生活方式和年龄有关的疾病的发病年龄（通常为50岁），也可以通过调整营养摄入量来延长平均寿命并改善健康状况。