Research from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet may slow aging at the cellular level. This dietary pattern has long been associated with various health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, improved cognitive function, and increased lifespan. Recent findings reveal a deeper understanding of how diet affects the aging process, specifically how it influences cellular aging.
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The study indicates that individuals who closely follow the Mediterranean diet have higher levels of two protective microproteins—humanin and SHMOOSE—produced in cellular mitochondria. These proteins are crucial for protecting the body against aging and disease-related damage. Roberto Vicinanza, the study's lead author, explains that these microproteins may serve as molecular messengers, linking diet to cellular function and aging. Participants adhering most closely to the diet also experienced lower levels of oxidative stress, which contributes to visible signs of aging in the skin.
Clinical pharmacist and nutritionist Jim LaValle acknowledges the significance of these findings while urging caution, given that the study involved only 49 older adults. He notes a noteworthy association between Mediterranean-style eating, increased levels of humanin and SHMOOSE, and reduced markers of oxidative stress. He suggests the diet could enhance healthy aging by promoting mitochondrial resilience alongside its well-known effects on cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation.
Certain foods within the Mediterranean diet stood out for their benefits. Olive oil was highlighted as a key contributor, with daily consumers showing higher levels of both microproteins. LaValle emphasizes that extra-virgin olive oil’s polyphenols, alongside its healthy fats, play an essential role in regulating oxidative stress and inflammation. Fish and legumes were also linked to higher humanin levels, while reducing refined foods like white bread corresponded with increased SHMOOSE levels. The overall diet pattern, rich in whole foods and low in refined carbohydrates, is critical for the benefits observed.
Humanin and SHMOOSE are mitochondrial microproteins linked to cell stress resistance and vascular protection, as explained by LaValle. These peptides help to connect mitochondrial function to diseases such as Alzheimer's and heart disease and now potentially to nutrition as well. Pinchas Cohen, dean of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, notes their emerging significance in aging biology.
The researchers caution that while the study presents compelling associations, more extensive research is needed to confirm direct causality. LaValle reiterates that the Mediterranean diet is not merely about individual foods but a holistic pattern that includes extra-virgin olive oil, vegetables, fruit, nuts, fish, whole grains, and less reliance on refined and processed foods. A 2024 cohort study in JAMA Network Open further supports the diet's benefits, revealing that adherence to this diet is linked to a 23-percent lower risk of all-cause mortality over 25 years.
Overall, LaValle concludes that nutrition serves as information for cells, suggesting that a Mediterranean-style diet could foster an environment conducive to optimal mitochondrial function and resilient aging at the cellular level.