News | Italian study links moderate alcohol use to slower biological aging in men
A study published in the International Journal of Public Health found that, within a Mediterranean diet, moderate wine consumption may be associated with slower biological aging in men. This association was not seen for total alcohol intake, suggesting that different alcoholic beverages and drinking patterns may have distinct health effects.
The study used the large Moli-sani Study cohort in southern Italy and included 22,495 adults. Food-frequency questionnaires assessed diet and drinking habits over the previous year, and multidimensional biomarkers were used to calculate biological age (BA). A deep neural network integrated 36 metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, and inflammatory measures. The difference between BA and chronological age (CA), or Δage, was used to assess aging rate.
Participants had a mean chronological age of 55.6 years and a mean biological age of 54.9 years, indicating a slight overall trend toward slower aging. Among men, moderate wine intake as defined by Mediterranean diet standards, about 125–500 mL/day, was associated with lower Δage and a younger biological age.
The association was strongest at an average intake of about 170 mL per day, or about 1–2 glasses, with biological age averaging about 0.34 years lower. Very low and excessive intake produced neutral or negative results, suggesting that the moderate range was important.
Total alcohol intake showed no similar association. When alcohol came from multiple sources or total intake was high, it was instead associated with faster biological aging, suggesting that alcoholic beverages may not have equivalent health effects.
The association was observed mainly in men, while women showed no significant differences across wine intake levels. Although the interaction by sex was not statistically significant, researchers suggested that differences in alcohol metabolism, such as lower alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and hormonal factors may make women more sensitive to alcohol.
The researchers proposed that bioactive compounds in wine, including polyphenols, may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic effects that potentially influence aging, rather than the effect coming from alcohol itself.
People with healthier lifestyles, including lower body weight, more physical activity, and fewer chronic diseases, were also more likely to drink moderately. These factors were adjusted for in the statistical models.
Overall adherence to the Mediterranean diet did not significantly modify the association, suggesting that wine may have some independent effect. Other dietary factors, including vegetable intake and the proportion of healthy fats, were also associated with slower aging.
The researchers emphasized that this observational study cannot establish causality. Although it offers new clues about healthy aging, long-term follow-up and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm the findings and inform public health policy.
News | Italian study links moderate alcohol use to slower biological aging in men
News | Italian study links moderate alcohol use to slower biological aging in men
A study published in the International Journal of Public Health found that, within a Mediterranean diet, moderate wine consumption may be associated with slower biological aging in men. This association was not seen for total alcohol intake, suggesting that different alcoholic beverages and drinking patterns may have distinct health effects.
The study used the large Moli-sani Study cohort in southern Italy and included 22,495 adults. Food-frequency questionnaires assessed diet and drinking habits over the previous year, and multidimensional biomarkers were used to calculate biological age (BA). A deep neural network integrated 36 metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, and inflammatory measures. The difference between BA and chronological age (CA), or Δage, was used to assess aging rate.
Participants had a mean chronological age of 55.6 years and a mean biological age of 54.9 years, indicating a slight overall trend toward slower aging. Among men, moderate wine intake as defined by Mediterranean diet standards, about 125–500 mL/day, was associated with lower Δage and a younger biological age.
The association was strongest at an average intake of about 170 mL per day, or about 1–2 glasses, with biological age averaging about 0.34 years lower. Very low and excessive intake produced neutral or negative results, suggesting that the moderate range was important.
Total alcohol intake showed no similar association. When alcohol came from multiple sources or total intake was high, it was instead associated with faster biological aging, suggesting that alcoholic beverages may not have equivalent health effects.
The association was observed mainly in men, while women showed no significant differences across wine intake levels. Although the interaction by sex was not statistically significant, researchers suggested that differences in alcohol metabolism, such as lower alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and hormonal factors may make women more sensitive to alcohol.
The researchers proposed that bioactive compounds in wine, including polyphenols, may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic effects that potentially influence aging, rather than the effect coming from alcohol itself.
People with healthier lifestyles, including lower body weight, more physical activity, and fewer chronic diseases, were also more likely to drink moderately. These factors were adjusted for in the statistical models.
Overall adherence to the Mediterranean diet did not significantly modify the association, suggesting that wine may have some independent effect. Other dietary factors, including vegetable intake and the proportion of healthy fats, were also associated with slower aging.
The researchers emphasized that this observational study cannot establish causality. Although it offers new clues about healthy aging, long-term follow-up and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm the findings and inform public health policy.
Source:
Compiled from online sources