Humans do not always age biologically at the same rate as their chronological age. Faster biological aging compared to chronological age has been linked to higher risks of disease and mortality.
According to a recent study, a diet low in vegetables and fruits and high in red meat, fast food and sugar-sweetened soft drinks was associated with accelerated biological aging even in young adulthood.
The rate of biological aging indicates the discrepancy between chronological age and biological age, that is, whether a person is biologically older or younger than their chronological age.
Biological aging can be measured using epigenetic clocks, which are computational models developed through machine learning methods that predict biological age based on methyl groups that regulate the expression of genes.
About the research
A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä and the Gerontology Research Center investigated whether diet predicts the rate of biological aging in young adulthood. The study participants were twins between the ages of 20 and 25.
According to the results, diets characterized by low intake of vegetables and fruits and high consumption of red and processed meat, fast food and sugar-sweetened soft drinks were associated with faster biological aging.
Conversely, diets rich in vegetables and fruits and low in meat, fast food and sugary soft drinks were associated with slower biological aging.
Other possible influences
‘Some of the observed associations may also be explained by other lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, smoking and body weight, as healthy and unhealthy lifestyle habits tend to cluster in the same individuals,’ said one of the researchers. ‘However, diet maintained a small independent association with aging even when we accounted for other lifestyle factors.’
Since the study participants were twins, the research was able to investigate the genetic influence on the relationship between diet and biological age.
The results suggest that a shared genetic background, but not the shared childhood environment of the twins, explains the relationship between diet and aging in young adulthood. ‘However, this does not mean that a health-promoting diet would not benefit everyone,’ emphasized the researchers.
Source: Clinical Nutrition, January 30, 2025.
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