Our understanding of aging has taken a fascinating turn as scientists delve into the impact of various dietary components on cellular senescence – the process associated with aging and age-related diseases. A recent review sheds light on the intricate relationship between diet and cellular senescence, revealing surprising connections and offering insights into potential strategies for promoting healthy aging.

Proteins, Carbs, and Fats: Balancing the Senescence Scale

Among the dietary components under scrutiny, proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids play pivotal roles in modulating cellular senescence. High-glycemic diets, characterized by increased levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), have been linked to vascular senescence in rats (1). On the flip side, caloric restriction (CR) and intermittent fasting emerge as potential allies against senescent cells, showing promise in reducing their numbers (2).

A high-protein diet, while beneficial for muscle gain and inflammation reduction post-exercise, raises intriguing concerns (3). Adults aged 50–65 consuming a high-protein diet  (>20 % of calories from proteins) exhibited higher overall mortality and a fourfold increase in cancer mortality (4). Strikingly, this trend reversed in individuals over 65, suggesting age-dependent effects. Notably, the adverse effects were attenuated when proteins were derived from plant sources (4).

Conversely, a high-fat diet induced senescent cell accumulation in various tissues, contributing to inflammation and insulin resistance (5, 6). However, these effects may be linked to factors beyond fat intake, such as the lack of dietary fibers and excessive caloric consumption (7).

Phytochemicals: Nature’s Senescence Fighters

Phytochemicals, the bioactive compounds found in plants, emerge as powerful senolytic agents (8). Quercetin, piperlongumine, fisetin, and polyphenols like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from tea, and herbal extracts like milk thistle, exhibit senolytic properties (9). Berberine, found in certain plants, reduces senescence by inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway (10). Diets rich in phytochemicals, such as the Mediterranean diet, show promise in reducing the accumulation of senescent cells (11).

These findings offer a glimpse into the complex interplay between diet and cellular senescence, hinting at potential avenues for promoting healthy aging. As science uncovers the secrets hidden in our daily food choices, the possibility of influencing the aging process through dietary interventions becomes an exciting frontier in the quest for longevity.

Reference:

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3 C. Yang, Y. Jiao, B. Wei, Z. Yang, J.F. Wu, J. Jensen, et al. Aged cells in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise Aging (Albany NY), 10 (6) (2018), pp. 1356-1365

4. M.E. Levine, J.A. Suarez, S. Brandhorst, P. Balasubramanian, C.W. Cheng, F. Madia, et al. Low protein intake is associated with a major reduction in IGF-1, cancer, and overall mortality in the 65 and younger but not older population. Cell Metabol, 19 (3) (2014), pp. 407-417

5. H. Sone, Y. Kagawa Pancreatic beta cell senescence contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in high-fat diet-induced diabetic mice. Diabetologia, 48 (1) (2005), pp. 58-67

6. T. Minamino, M. Orimo, I. Shimizu, T. Kunieda, M. Yokoyama, T. Ito, et al. A crucial role for adipose tissue p53 in the regulation of insulin resistance. Nat Med, 15 (9) (2009), pp. 1082-1087

7. R. San-Cristobal, S. Navas-Carretero, M.A. Martinez-Gonzalez, J.M. Ordovas, J.A. Martinez. Contribution of macronutrients to obesity: implications for precision nutrition. Nat Rev Endocrinol, 16 (6) (2020), pp. 305-320

8.J. Martel, D.M. Ojcius, C.Y. Wu, H.H. Peng, L. Voisin, J.L. Perfettini, et al. Emerging use of senolytics and senomorphics against aging and chronic diseasesmMed Res Rev, 40 (6) (2020), pp. 2114-2131

9. R. Sharma, R. Kumar, A. Sharma, A. Goel, Y. Padwad. Long-term consumption of green tea EGCG enhances murine health span by mitigating multiple aspects of cellular senescence in mitotic and post-mitotic tissues, gut dysbiosis, and immunosenescence. J Nutr Biochem, 107 (2022), Article 109068

10. H. Zhao, H.D. Halicka, J. Li, Z. Darzynkiewicz. Berberine suppresses gero-conversion from cell cycle arrest to senescence Aging (Albany NY), 5 (8) (2013), pp. 623-636

11. C. Marin, J. Delgado-Lista, R. Ramirez, J. Carracedo, J. Caballero, P. Perez-Martinez, et al. Mediterranean diet reduces senescence-associated stress in endothelial cells. Age (Dordr), 34 (6) (2012), pp. 1309-1316