Dietary patterns, food groups and telomere length: a systematic review of current studies.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review of predominantly observational studies
PubMed 27530475 · doi:10.1038/ejcn.2016.149
What was done
A systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines searching PubMed, Science Direct, The Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar through November 2015 for human studies evaluating the relationship between dietary patterns, food groups, and telomere length (TL).
What was found
Seventeen studies were included (3 assessed dietary patterns, 10 food groups, and 4 evaluated both). Mediterranean dietary pattern adherence was associated with longer TL in 3 studies. Fruit or vegetable intake was positively linked to longer TL in 5 studies. In 7 studies, an inverse association with TL was reported for intake of cereals, processed meat, and fats and oils. Results for other food groups were inconsistent, and the abstract reports no pooled numerical effect sizes or confidence intervals.
Why it matters
This review compiles evidence linking dietary intake to biomarkers of cellular aging, showing consistent positive associations for Mediterranean-style and plant-rich diets.
Limits
The abstract reports no quantitative effect sizes, pooled statistics, or confidence intervals. The underlying studies are observational, preventing causal conclusions and leaving associations subject to residual confounding.
Cited by
- supports Consumption of pro-inflammatory foods such as red meat, processed meat, and sugary drinks is associated with shorter telomeres.