Mixed
High adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with longer leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and higher PBMC telomerase activity in elderly individuals, independent of age, gender, and smoking status.
Adhere closely to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (high intake of vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereal, fish, and monounsaturated fats; low intake of meat and dairy) to support telomere maintenance and potentially slow cellular aging. This involves prioritizing plant-based foods and healthy fats while limiting processed meats and dairy.
High adherence group showed longer LTL (p = 0.003) and higher telomerase activity (p = 0.013) compared to others... MDS was independently associated with LTL (p = 0.024) and telomerase activity levels (p = 0.006).
Why this rating
Observational cohort study with a relatively small sample size (n=217) and cross-sectional design limits causal inference, though statistical adjustments are robust.
Source
Mediterranean Diet, Telomere Maintenance and Health Status among Elderly
Virginia Boccardi et al. · PLoS ONE · 2013
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0062781
More from this paper
- Higher telomerase activity is independently associated with better health status (defined as absence of chronic diseases and high functional independence) in the elderly, regardless of telomere length.Moderate
- High adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) and oxidative stress (nitrotyrosine) in the elderly.Moderate
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