Relationship between dietary macronutrients intake and biological aging: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data

Xu Zhu; Jing Xue; Rehanguli Maimaitituerxun; Hui Xu; Qiaoling Zhou; Quan Zhou; Wenjie Dai; Wenhang Chen

doi:10.1007/s00394-023-03261-2

Relationship between dietary macronutrients intake and biological aging: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data

Eur J Nutr. 2024 Feb;63(1):243-251. doi: 10.1007/s00394-023-03261-2. Epub 2023 Oct 16.

Authors

Xu Zhu^{1

2}, Jing Xue³, Rehanguli Maimaitituerxun⁴, Hui Xu¹, Qiaoling Zhou¹, Quan Zhou⁵, Wenjie Dai⁶, Wenhang Chen⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, Hunan, China.
³ Department of Scientific Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
⁴ Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
⁵ Department of Science and Education, The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Changde, 415000, Hunan, China.
⁶ Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. m18673965791@163.com.
⁷ Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. wenhangchen@csu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37845359
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03261-2

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between macronutrient intake and biological age.

Methods: Data were collected from 26,381 adults who participated in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Two biological ages were estimated using the Klemera-Doubal method (KDM) and PhenoAge algorithms. Biological age acceleration (AA) was computed as the difference between biological age and chronological age. The associations between macronutrient intakes and AA were investigated.

Results: After fully adjusting for confounding factors, negative associations were observed between AA and fiber intake (KDM-AA: β - 0.53, 95% CI - 0.62, - 0.43, P < 0.05; PhenoAge acceleration: β - 0.30, 95% CI - 0.35, - 0.25, P < 0.05). High-quality carbohydrate intake was associated with decreased AA (KDM-AA: β - 0.57, 95% CI - 0.67, - 0.47, P < 0.05; PhenoAge acceleration: β - 0.32, 95% CI - 0.37, - 0.26, P < 0.05), while low-quality carbohydrate was associated with increased AA (KDM-AA: β 0.30, 95% CI 0.21, 0.38, P < 0.05; PhenoAge acceleration: β 0.16, 95% CI 0.11, 0.21, P < 0.05). Plant protein was associated with decreased AA (KDM-AA: β - 0.39, 95% CI - 0.51, - 0.27, P < 0.05; PhenoAge acceleration: β - 0.21, 95% CI - 0.26, - 0.15, P < 0.05). Long-chain SFA intake increased AA (KDM-AA: β 0.16, 95% CI 0.08, 0.24, P < 0.05; PhenoAge acceleration: β 0.11, 95% CI 0.07, 0.15, P < 0.05). ω-3 PUFA was associated with decreased KDM-AA (β - 0.18, 95% CI - 0.27, - 0.08, P < 0.05) and PhenoAge acceleration (β - 0.09, 95% CI - 0.13, - 0.04, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that dietary fiber, high-quality carbohydrate, plant protein, and ω-3 PUFA intake may have a protective effect against AA, while low-quality carbohydrate and long-chain SFA intake may increase AA. Therefore, dietary interventions aimed at modifying macronutrient intakes may be useful in preventing or delaying age-related disease and improving overall health.

Keywords: Biological aging; Cross-sectional study; Macronutrients; NHANES.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietary Fats*
Dietary Fiber
Eating
Fatty Acids, Omega-3*
Nutrients
Nutrition Surveys
Plant Proteins
United States

Substances

Dietary Fats
Dietary Fiber
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Plant Proteins