Good diet boosts healthy cell ageing in women

Washington, Aug. 26: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains could help promote healthy cellular ageing in women, and prevent chronic diseases diabetes or cancer, a study has found.

In the study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers used telomere length to measure cellular ageing.

Telomeres are DNA protein structures located on the ends of chromosomes that promote stability and protect DNA.

Age is the strongest predictor of telomere length — telomeres shorten in length during each cell cycle.

“The key takeaway is that following a healthy diet can help us maintain healthy cells and avoid certain chronic diseases,” said Cindy Leung, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan in the US.

“Emphasis should be placed on improving the overall quality of your diet rather than emphasizing individual foods or nutrients,” said Leung.

However, recent studies have shown that telomeres can also be shortened due to behavioral, environmental and psychological factors.

Shorter telomeres have been associated with an increased risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

Researchers examined the diets of nearly 5,000 healthy adults and how well they scored on four diet quality indices.

For women, higher scores on each of the indices were significantly associated with longer telomere length.