Plant polyphenols show promise in slowing aging, enhancing brain health, and preventing age-related diseases through their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, offering a natural approach to healthier aging and reduced drug dependence.
Study: Dietary polyphenols as antiaging agents: Targeting the hallmarks of aging. Image credit: marilyn barbone/Shutterstock.com
In a recent review article published in Nutrientsresearchers examined the effects of dietary plant polyphenols on aging processes.
Their findings suggest that polyphenols are beneficial due to their antioxidant properties and may offer anti-aging and brain-protective benefits, supporting the development of new therapies and supplements to prevent age-related diseases while reducing pharmaceutical use.
The aging of the world population
Data from global agencies such as the World Bank and the World Health Organization suggest that 727 million people, or 9.3% of the world’s population, will be 65 years or older by 2022. As people age, they face a higher risk of metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration and cancer, which can be moderated by environment, lifestyle and genetic factors.
As life expectancy increases, it is important to identify ways to slow aging and improve the quality of life of the elderly. Some drugs show promise for targeting hallmarks of aging, such as chronic inflammation.
However, natural chemicals such as polyphenols, which are found in plant foods such as tea, fruits, vegetables and red wine, show significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Polyphenols for antiaging
They may be protective against oxidative stress and boost immune function, metabolism, gut health and cognitive function, reducing the risk of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and heart disease.
Polyphenols can extend lifespan by slowing aging, improving mitochondrial health and reducing inflammation. There is evidence that diets rich in vegetables and fruits containing polyphenols can improve health and quality of life.
As people age, mitochondria, which drive cellular function and thus fundamental biological processes, work less efficiently, a decline called mitochondrial dysfunction.
This is linked to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, but polyphenols such as quercetin and resveratrol are protective against these processes by supporting the repair of damaged mitochondria.
Another aspect of aging is a decrease in autophagy, the process of breaking down and reusing old or damaged cellular components. Loss of this ability with age can lead to various diseases, but polyphenols can induce autophagy, supporting cellular health by cleaning up damaged proteins and organ parts, thus reducing protein aggregates and reducing neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition, polyphenols have the potential to protect against genetic damage by repairing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and maintaining genomic stability.
Chronic inflammation is another symptom of aging and is implicated in diseases such as neuroinflammation and osteoarthritis.
However, the anti-inflammatory properties of such polyphenols reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, effectively alleviating the symptoms of inflammatory diseases.
Polyphenols also support nutrient sensing, or the processes by which cells detect and respond to energy sources, which decline with age and are implicated in metabolic diseases. They also advocate caloric restriction.
Foods rich in polyphenols
Researchers have been able to isolate certain polyphenols that may delay aging and help treat age-related diseases.
Ellagic acid is a polyphenol found in walnuts, raspberries and pomegranates. It has neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that have extended lifespan in model organisms by reducing genetic damage and free radicals.
By interacting with processes in the gut, ellagic acid forms a substance called urolithin-A, which promotes mitochondrial health and longevity. Clinical trials involving the elderly have shown that urolithin-A improves muscle health and mitochondrial activity.
Another important polyphenol is gallic acid, which has been identified in nuts, grapes and pomegranates. It enhances skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles by stimulating collagen production, potentially reversing the processes associated with aging.
Meanwhile, rutin, which is found in buckwheat and citrus fruits, has been shown to extend lifespan in mice and fruit flies by reducing inflammation and targeting aging cells. In humans, it may reduce type 2 diabetes by reducing oxidative stress and protecting cardiovascular health from environmental pollutants.
Broccoli, apples, berries and onions contain a powerful antioxidant called quercetin, which reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, helps eliminate aging cells, improves skin health, targets tissue damage associated with age and reduces the risk of weakness.
Strawberries and many other fruits contain fisetin, which penetrates the blood-brain barrier, improving cognitive function and preventing age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Fisetin also improves skin health by removing aging skin cells.
Another important group of antioxidant polyphenols are anthocyanins, found in raspberries, blueberries and other berries, which boost blood vessel health, support bone strength and prevent cancer. They promote healthy aging by reducing oxidative stress and stimulating autophagy.
conclusions
Studies show that polyphenols play a critical role in combating aging and disease through their effects on mitochondrial function, DNA health, genomic stability, inflammation, and autophagy.
Incorporating polyphenol-rich foods into the diet can provide enormous health and longevity benefits while reducing reliance on pharmaceutical interventions.
Journal Reference:
Liu, Y., Fang, M., Tu, X., Mo, X., Zhang, L., Yang, B., Wang, F., Kim, Y., Huang, C., Chen, L., Fan, S. (2024) Dietary Polyphenols as Antiaging Agents: Targeting Characteristics of Aging. Nutrients. doi: 10.3390/nu16193305.
