Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging
Abstract Background The role of diet in aging is crucial, yet research findings on how specific diets influence human aging remain inconsistent. Understanding the relationship between dietary factors and aging could inform interventions to promote healthier aging outcomes. Methods We analyzed data f...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Communications Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00754-5 |
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| author | Chen Zhu Youfa Wang Xiaosong Yang Qiran Zhao Wenyan Xu Xiaolu Wang Yanjun Liang Qihui Chen Shenggen Fan |
| author_facet | Chen Zhu Youfa Wang Xiaosong Yang Qiran Zhao Wenyan Xu Xiaolu Wang Yanjun Liang Qihui Chen Shenggen Fan |
| author_sort | Chen Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The role of diet in aging is crucial, yet research findings on how specific diets influence human aging remain inconsistent. Understanding the relationship between dietary factors and aging could inform interventions to promote healthier aging outcomes. Methods We analyzed data from the UK Biobank baseline survey and a 24-hour dietary assessment survey to investigate the association between diet and aging. The study examined 18 individual food intakes, 6 dietary patterns, 3 macronutrient intakes, and 3 dietary quality scores. High-dimensional Fixed Effects (HDFE) models were used to assess associations between dietary factors and aging measures, including telomere length, phenotypic age, and brain grey/white matter volumes. Multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) was employed to explore causal links between macronutrient consumption and aging outcomes. Results Our results show that healthier diets are generally associated with improved aging outcomes from HDFE analyses. Plant-based food consumption correlates with increased telomere length and reduced phenotypic age, while animal-based food intake is linked to adverse aging effects. MVMR results confirm the causal benefits of carbohydrate intake, including reductions in phenotypic age (β = −0.0025; 95% CI = [−0.0047, −0.0003]; p = 0.0253) and increases in whole-brain grey matter volume (β = 0.0262; 95% CI = [0.007, 0.046]; p = 0.0087). The latter association remains significant after multiple testing correction. Conclusions This study underscores the significant role of diet in biological aging and provides robust evidence for the benefits of carbohydrate intake in promoting healthier aging. These findings highlight the potential of dietary interventions to improve aging-related outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-87a6949cd47147ab9a9d3ff41d550622 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-664X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-87a6949cd47147ab9a9d3ff41d5506222025-02-09T12:52:08ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Medicine2730-664X2025-02-01511910.1038/s43856-025-00754-5Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on agingChen Zhu0Youfa Wang1Xiaosong Yang2Qiran Zhao3Wenyan Xu4Xiaolu Wang5Yanjun Liang6Qihui Chen7Shenggen Fan8Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP), China Agricultural UniversitySchool of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityBeijing Jishuitan HospitalAcademy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP), China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Economics and Management, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Economics and Management, China Agricultural UniversityNanjing Starhomes Health Management and Consulting Co. Ltd.Beijing Food Safety Policy and Strategy Research Base, China Agricultural UniversityAcademy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP), China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background The role of diet in aging is crucial, yet research findings on how specific diets influence human aging remain inconsistent. Understanding the relationship between dietary factors and aging could inform interventions to promote healthier aging outcomes. Methods We analyzed data from the UK Biobank baseline survey and a 24-hour dietary assessment survey to investigate the association between diet and aging. The study examined 18 individual food intakes, 6 dietary patterns, 3 macronutrient intakes, and 3 dietary quality scores. High-dimensional Fixed Effects (HDFE) models were used to assess associations between dietary factors and aging measures, including telomere length, phenotypic age, and brain grey/white matter volumes. Multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MVMR) was employed to explore causal links between macronutrient consumption and aging outcomes. Results Our results show that healthier diets are generally associated with improved aging outcomes from HDFE analyses. Plant-based food consumption correlates with increased telomere length and reduced phenotypic age, while animal-based food intake is linked to adverse aging effects. MVMR results confirm the causal benefits of carbohydrate intake, including reductions in phenotypic age (β = −0.0025; 95% CI = [−0.0047, −0.0003]; p = 0.0253) and increases in whole-brain grey matter volume (β = 0.0262; 95% CI = [0.007, 0.046]; p = 0.0087). The latter association remains significant after multiple testing correction. Conclusions This study underscores the significant role of diet in biological aging and provides robust evidence for the benefits of carbohydrate intake in promoting healthier aging. These findings highlight the potential of dietary interventions to improve aging-related outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00754-5 |
| spellingShingle | Chen Zhu Youfa Wang Xiaosong Yang Qiran Zhao Wenyan Xu Xiaolu Wang Yanjun Liang Qihui Chen Shenggen Fan Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging Communications Medicine |
| title | Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging |
| title_full | Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging |
| title_fullStr | Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging |
| title_short | Multi-dimensional evidence from the UK Biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging |
| title_sort | multi dimensional evidence from the uk biobank shows the impact of diet and macronutrient intake on aging |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00754-5 |
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