Human study · Nutrition · 1 Nov 2026
In the Airwave cohort, a higher Mediterranean diet score lined up with slightly lower epigenetic age
Source: PubMed
What the research found
Zaki and colleagues report a cross-sectional study in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging (November 2026; volume 30, article 100964; Epub 28 August 2026; DOI 10.1016/j.jnha.2026.100964; PMID 42664808; PMC13545309). The Airwave sample was 928 people, mean age 41 years, 59 percent male. A higher Mediterranean diet score was associated with lower GrimAge (beta -0.07 SD, 95 percent CI -0.13 to -0.01) and Bernabeu (-0.08 SD, -0.14 to -0.02) after false-discovery-rate correction. Smoking was strongly associated with higher epigenetic age acceleration, especially on GrimAge, Bernabeu, and DunedinPACE. Among current smokers, lower diet adherence had a larger GrimAge difference (1.79 SD, 1.54 to 2.04) than higher adherence (1.35 SD, 1.01 to 1.68); interaction p < 0.001. Fruit, vegetable, and whole-grain intakes were the components most consistently tied to a smaller smoking-related gap. The authors say this does not mean diet neutralises tobacco risk. The range of ages was not printed, and 59 percent male is not a men-only sample, so the tags stay all and all ages. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
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