Accuracy of the centenarian numbers in Okinawa and the role of the Okinawan diet on longevity
Open accessAbstract
This response letter addresses two points raised by le Bourg when discussing our previous paper entitled "Exploring the impact of climate on human longevity". First, the arguments explaining the accuracy of the numbers of centenarian in Okinawa are developed, and second the composition and healthfulness of the traditional Okinawan diet are described as well as the changes in dietary pattern and their impact on longevity.
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Mediterranean-like climates, with mild temperatures (17-20 °C), support outdoor activity and chronic disease prevention.
“Mediterranean-like climates, with mild temperatures (17–20 °C), support outdoor activity and chronic disease prevention [4,7,48,49].”
Cites
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Self-citationThey Really Are That Old: A Validation Study of Centenarian Prevalence in Okinawa
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Self-citationDietary Patterns and Longevity: Expanding the Blue Zones
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Exploring the impact of climate on human longevity
Robine, J., Herrmann, F. R., Arai, Y., Willcox, D. C., Gondo, Y., Hirose, N., Suzuki, M., & Saito, Y. (2012) · Experimental Gerontology · doi:10.1016/j.exger.2012.05.009 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Self-citationExceptional Longevity in Okinawa:
Poulain, M. (2011) · Demographic Research · doi:10.4054/demres.2011.25.7 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
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Military Government in the Ryukyu Islands, 1945-1950
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The mystery of Japan's missing centenarians explained
Saito, Y., Yong, V., & Robine, J. (2012) · Demographic Research · doi:10.4054/demres.2012.26.11 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
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3 of the 13 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
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Protein and amino acid restriction, aging and disease: from yeast to humans
Mirzaei, H., Suarez, J. A., & Longo, V. D. (2014) · Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.tem.2014.07.002 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Willcox, B. J., & Willcox, D. C. (2013) · Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care · doi:10.1097/mco.0000000000000019 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Self-citationLongevity and Diet. Myth or pragmatism?
Chrysohoou, C. A., & Stefanadis, C. (2013) · Maturitas · doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.09.014 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Aliberti, S. M., De Caro, F., Funk, R. H. W., Schiavo, L., Gonnella, J., Boccia, G., & Capunzo, M. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19031589 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
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Aliberti, S. M., & Capunzo, M. (2025) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu17040722 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
“A growing body of evidence highlights the critical role of natural environments in promoting health, resilience, and longevity [23–27]. disease prevention [4,7,48,49].”
Aliberti, S. M., Donato, A., Funk, R. H. W., & Capunzo, M. (2024) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu16050729 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
How to promote healthy aging across the life cycle
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Adherence to Mediterranean Diet in Croatia: Lessons Learned Today for a Brighter Tomorrow
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Exceptional longevity in Okinawa: Demographic trends since 1975
Poulain, M., & Herm, A. (2024) · Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1111/joim.13764 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Exposome, aging, and longevity: The role of sex and gender differences in health and mortality
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- Authors
- Robine, J.-M., Herrmann, F. R., Arai, Y., Willcox, D. C., Gondo, Y., Hirose, N., Suzuki, M., & Saito, Y.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Keio University (JP)
- Kuakini Medical Center (US)
- The University of Osaka (JP)
- University of the Ryukyus (JP)
- Nihon University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Robine, Jean-Marie
- Venue
- Experimental Gerontology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-08
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 840-842
- ISSN
- 0531-5565 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1528265078
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Experimental Gerontology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk Management
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Keywords
- centenarians, Okinawa, longevity, dietary habits
- MeSH terms
- Climate, Female, Humans, Longevity, Male
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