Eating fruit and drinking a cup of coffee a day could halve the risk of cells ageing unhealthily, research suggests. A study from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, found that a diet rich in polyphenols – compounds found in berries, apples, coffee, cocoa and tea – is associated with a lower risk of short telomeres, the protective caps on DNA that shorten with age and are linked to age-related diseases.
Researchers measured telomere length in samples from more than 1,700 adults in 2008 and again in 2015, assessing their total polyphenol consumption. Those with the highest intake had a 52% lower risk of short telomeres compared with those who consumed the least. Moderate coffee consumption of up to one cup per day was linked to a 26% lower risk, while eating four to five servings of fruit daily was associated with a 29% lower risk. Other polyphenol-rich foods such as olive oil, red wine and vegetables did not show a significant effect on telomere length.
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.' Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, professor of human nutrition at King’s College London, added: 'Polyphenols have been linked to a lower risk of age-related diseases, including heart disease and cognitive decline.'
However, Gunter Kuhnle, professor of nutrition at the University of Reading, urged caution, noting that measuring polyphenol intake accurately is difficult. He said: 'It is not surprising that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has potential health benefits. 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.'
