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How Does Diet Affect Biological Aging?

By Sama Marwan,

Aging does not always progress at the same rate biologically as it does chronologically. Faster biological aging compared to chronological age has been linked to an increased risk of diseases and mortality. According to a recent study, a diet low in fruits and vegetables but high in red meat, fast food, and sugary soft drinks can accelerate biological aging—even in young adults.

What Is Biological Aging?
Biological aging refers to the difference between chronological age and biological age, meaning whether a person is biologically older or younger than their actual age. It can be measured using epigenetic clocks, which are machine-learning-based models that estimate biological age based on DNA methylation patterns that regulate gene expression, according to News Medical.

Study Findings
The study, conducted at the University of Jyväskylä and the Center for Aging Research in Finland, aimed to determine whether diet could predict the rate of biological aging in young adults. The research focused on a group of twins aged 20 to 25 years.

The findings revealed that diets low in vegetables and fruits but high in red and processed meats, fast food, and sugary soft drinks were associated with accelerated biological aging. Conversely, diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in meat, fast food, and sugary drinks were linked to slower biological aging.

Influencing Factors
Lead researcher Sofi Rauti noted that other lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, smoking, and body weight, might also play a role. People who follow one healthy habit (such as eating fruits and vegetables) are often more likely to adopt other healthy behaviors (like exercising or avoiding smoking). Similarly, those with one unhealthy habit (such as consuming fast food) may also engage in other unhealthy behaviors (like smoking or being physically inactive).

However, even after accounting for these factors, diet remained independently associated with biological aging. Since the study participants were twins, researchers were able to analyze the impact of genetics on the relationship between diet and biological age.

Genetics vs. Environment
The results indicated that shared genetic background—not childhood environment—explained the link between diet and aging in young adulthood. However, Rauti emphasized that this does not mean a healthy diet is ineffective for everyone.

The study used data from the FinnTwin12 project, involving 826 twin individuals and 363 twin pairs.

Dietary Assessment
Participants’ diets were evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire, in which they reported their typical consumption of 55 different food items.

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