A study presented at the 33rd European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul suggests that olive oil, a staple in many kitchens, may be linked to slower biological ageing. Researchers from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, measured the length of telomeres in samples from more than 1,700 adults whose diets were monitored for nearly 10 years.
Polyphenol-rich diets and telomere length
The study found that people who consumed the highest amounts of polyphenols—natural plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties—had a 52% lower risk of a faster telomere shortening rate compared with the group who ate the least, The Times reports. Participants who consumed the most fruit had a 29% lower risk of having short telomeres compared with those who ate the least, and a cup of coffee was associated with a 26% lower risk compared with non-coffee drinkers.
Polyphenols are found in everyday staples such as olive oil, fruit, vegetables, cocoa, tea and coffee. The study's lead author, Isabella Kury Guzmán, said: "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."
Expert views on polyphenol benefits
Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, a professor of human nutrition at King’s College London, said: "Polyphenols have been linked to a lower risk of age-related diseases, including heart disease and cognitive decline. Clinical studies show that consumption of these compounds can lower blood pressure and support blood vessel and brain function as we age. This study adds to growing evidence that diets rich in polyphenols may support healthier ageing."
However, Gunter Kuhnle, a professor of nutrition at the University of Reading, highlighted that accurately measuring polyphenol intake is very difficult, The Guardian reported. He said: "A diet rich in plant foods is linked to longer telomeres and potentially healthier ageing. But because plant-based foods are the main source of polyphenols, it is very difficult to distinguish between whether that healthier ageing is due specifically to the polyphenols or the fact of eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables."
