"Foods rich in polyphenols such as berries, apples, coffee, cocoa and tea are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but a new study has found they are also associated with a lower risk of short telomeres, the ends or caps of DNA that, when shorter, increase the risk of cell death and unhealthy ageing."
"Researchers from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, measured the length of telomeres in samples from more than 1,700 adults in 2008 and also in 2015 and assessed participants' total polyphenol consumption. The study, presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, found that compared with those who consumed the least polyphenols, those with the highest amounts in their diets had a 52% lower risk of short telomeres."
"Moderate coffee consumption (up to one cup per day) was associated with a 26% lower risk of short telomeres compared with non-consumers, while four to five servings of fruit a day was also linked to a lower risk, with participants consuming the most fruit having a 29% lower risk of having short telomeres compared with those who ate the least."
"Our findings point to a broader message: a diet rich in polyphenols, including foods like fruits and coffee, may be one piece of the puzzle in supporting healthier cellular ageing. This is not about one anti-ageing' food, but about the cumulative effect of everyday dietary choices over time."
Polyphenols found in berries, apples, coffee, cocoa, and tea are associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Telomere length was measured in samples from more than 1,700 adults in 2008 and again in 2015, alongside assessment of total polyphenol intake. People with the highest polyphenol consumption had a 52% lower risk of short telomeres than those with the lowest intake. Moderate coffee consumption up to one cup per day was linked to a 26% lower risk compared with non-consumers. Four to five servings of fruit per day were linked to a 29% lower risk compared with the lowest fruit intake. Olive oil, red wine, and vegetables were not observed to affect telomere risk. Short telomeres are linked to higher risk of age-related diseases and mortality.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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