Tea consumption and attenuation of biological aging: a longitudinal analysis from two cohort studies

Yi Xiang; Hao Xu; Hongxiang Chen; Dan Tang; Zitong Huang; Yuan Zhang; Zhenghong Wang; Ziyun Wang; Yangla; Mingming Han; Jianzhong Yin; Xiong Xiao; Xing Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100955

Tea consumption and attenuation of biological aging: a longitudinal analysis from two cohort studies

Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023 Nov 22:42:100955. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100955. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Authors

Yi Xiang¹, Hao Xu², Hongxiang Chen¹, Dan Tang¹, Zitong Huang¹, Yuan Zhang¹, Zhenghong Wang³, Ziyun Wang⁴, Yangla⁵, Mingming Han⁶, Jianzhong Yin^{7

8}, Xiong Xiao¹, Xing Zhao¹

Affiliations

¹ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ Chongqing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, China.
⁴ School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
⁵ High Altitude Health Science Research Center of Tibet University, Lhasa, China.
⁶ Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China.
⁷ School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
⁸ Baoshan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Baoshan, China.

Abstract

Background: The biological aging process can be modified through lifestyle interventions to prevent age-related diseases and extend healthspan. However, evidence from population-based studies on whether tea consumption could delay the biological aging process in humans remains limited.

Methods: This study included 7931 participants aged 30-79 years from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study and 5998 participants aged 37-73 years from the UK Biobank (UKB) who participated in both the baseline and first follow-up surveys. Tea consumption information was collected through questionnaires. Biological age (BA) acceleration was calculated using clinical biomarkers and anthropometric measurements based on the Klemera Doubal method (KDM). Change-to-change analyses were performed to estimate the associations between changes in tea consumption status and changes in BA acceleration using multiple linear models. Follow-up adjusted for baseline analyses were further conducted to examine the prospective exposure-response relationship between tea consumption and BA acceleration among individuals with constant tea consumption status.

Findings: During a median follow-up of 1.98 (1.78, 2.16) years in the CMEC and 4.50 (3.92, 5.00) years in the UKB, tea consumption was consistently associated with attenuated BA acceleration in both cohorts. Transitioning from nondrinking to tea-drinking was associated with decreased BA acceleration (CMEC: β = -0.319, 95% CI: -0.620 to -0.017 years; UKB: β = -0.267, 95% CI: -0.831 to 0.297 years) compared to consistent nondrinking. Even stronger associations were found in consistent tea drinkers. The exposure-response relationship suggested that consuming around 3 cups of tea or 6-8 g of tea leaves per day may offer the most evident anti-aging benefits.

Interpretation: Tea consumption was associated with attenuated BA acceleration measured by KDM, especially for consistent tea drinkers with moderate consumption. Our findings highlight the potential role of tea in developing nutrition-oriented anti-aging interventions and guiding healthy aging policies.

Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82273740).

Keywords: Biological aging; Change-to-change analysis; Exposure-response relationship; Follow-up adjusted for baseline analysis; Tea consumption.