Dietary flavonoids intake contributes to delay biological aging process: analysis from NHANES dataset

BackgroundDiet may influence biological aging and the discrepancy ( increment age) between a subject's biological age (BA) and chronological age (CA). We aimed to investigate the correlation of dietary flavonoids with the increment age of organs (heart, kidney, liver) and the whole body.MethodA total of 3193 United States adults were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2007-2008 and 2017-2018. Dietary flavonoids intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recall method. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of dietary flavonoids intake with the increment age of organs (heart, kidney, liver) and the whole body. BA was computed based on circulating biomarkers, and the resulting increment age was tested as an outcome in linear regression analysis.ResultsThe increment age of the whole body, heart, and liver was inversely associated with higher flavonoids intake (the whole body increment age & beta; = - 0.58, cardiovascular increment age & beta; = - 0.96, liver increment age & beta; = - 3.19) after adjustment for variables. However, higher flavonoids intake positively related to renal increment age (& beta; = 0.40) in participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Associations were influenced by population characteristics, such as age, health behavior, or chronic diseases. Anthocyanidins, isoflavones and flavones had the strongest inverse associations between the whole body increment age and cardiovascular increment age among all the flavonoids subclasses.ConclusionFlavonoids intake positively contributes to delaying the biological aging process, especially in the heart, and liver organ, which may be beneficial for reducing the long-term risk of cardiovascular or liver disease.

Automated summary

This study investigates the correlation between dietary flavonoids and the aging of organs (heart, kidney, liver) and the whole body. The results show that higher flavonoids intake is negatively associated with the aging of the whole body, heart, and liver, but positively associated with the aging of the kidney in participants with chronic kidney disease. Among all flavonoid subclasses, anthocyanidins, isoflavones, and flavones have the strongest inverse associations with the aging of the whole body and the heart.