Catching up with healthy aging: A round-up of the latest science

According to the Nutrition Business Journal’s 2024 Longevity Report, sales of supplements for healthy aging and longevity are growing faster than the overall supplement industry and are expected to cross the billion-dollar mark by 2026.

Current top selling supplement in the category reported include CoQ10, DHEA, vitamin A/Beta carotene, collagen, combination herbs, resveratrol and multivitamins to address concerns such as heart health, loss of mobility, cognitive decline, vision loss, mental and emotional well-being, weight gain or loss, wrinkles and digestive health.

With the World Health Organization projecting that the global population age 60 and older will increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion by 2050, as well as the economic burden of chronic conditions, the supplement industry has responded by exploring new frontiers in prevention with research and product development focused on the different dimensions of aging.

Below a round-up of some of the latest science investigating compounds that could help people live better for longer.

Study links creatine to lower death risk

The market for creatine is expanding beyond the gym into the health and longevity space as mounting scientific evidence supports benefits spanning muscle health, brain function, energy metabolism and other elements of living better for longer.

While companies are beginning to increase their vivifying claims, evidence connecting dietary creatine intake to mortality remains scarce and inconclusive, according to leading creatine researcher Sergej Ostojic, PhD, who recently published a study in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism exploring the associations between the two.

“This is likely the first study to show that consuming creatine from everyday foods is linked to a lower risk of death from any cause,” he told NutraIngredients. “Over a 20-year follow-up period, people who consumed more than 1 g of creatine per day were significantly less likely to die from any cause compared to those who consumed less than 1 g.”

Salmon nose cartilage for younger skin?

Supplementing with salmon nose cartilage could significantly reduce signs of skin aging in the middle aged.

Writing in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, researchers from Shanghai Huiwen Biotech Co., which funded the study, evaluated the efficacy of the company’s salmon nasal cartilage-derived proteoglycans powder on skin elasticity, hydration, roughness, wrinkles and pigmentation.

“Both [exogenous and endogenous] aging commonly damage the extracellular matrix in the dermis, particularly collagen, leading to visible skin changes such as pigmentation, thinning of the skin barrier, accelerated formation of wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity,” they noted. “As a result, the search for functional foods that can delay skin aging has become an increasingly popular topic among consumers.”

NIH study pours cold water on taurine for longevity

Circulating levels of the amino acid taurine are unlikely to be a good biomarker for aging, according to a study published in Science.

Scientists from the National Institute on Aging at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed blood samples from humans, monkeys and mice, reporting that taurine levels often increased or remained constant with age.

Researchers also found inconsistent associations between taurine levels and functional biomarkers of healthy aging, such as muscle strength and body weight, which varied depending on context and species.

“On the basis of these findings, we conclude that low circulating taurine concentrations are unlikely to serve as a good biomarker of aging,” they wrote. “Moreover, we surmise that the efficacy of taurine supplementation to delay aging or broadly treat aging-related conditions may be context dependent.”

Omega-3s show promise for post-menopausal muscle health

DHA-rich omega-3 supplementation coupled with resistance training could help improve muscle strength, reduce inflammation and improve cholesterol in postmenopausal women.

Researchers in Spain investigated the impact of 16 weeks of omega-3 supplementation alone and in combination with resistance training on muscle-related proteins, markers of inflammation, body composition and muscle strength, in 71 overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

“Supplementation with n-3 PUFA rich in DHA might have the potential for decreasing cardiovascular risk and improving muscle function in postmenopausal women,” they wrote in the journal Nutrients.

BCAAs plus exercise may improve strength and reduce fatigue in older adults

BCAAs combined with exercise may improve physical performance and reduce fatigue and depressive symptoms in older adults, according to a pilot study.

A randomized clinical trial, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and published in Dietetics, explored the effects of supplementation with branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and exercise in community-dwelling older adults with self-reported fatigue and reduced physical function.

Compared to placebo, the supplemented participants showed greater improvements in strength, mobility and endurance, along with reductions in fatigue and depressive symptoms.

“These functional gains are clinically meaningful, as reduced gait speed and poor 400 m walk performance are established predictors of falls, hospitalization, loss of independence and mortality in older adults,” the researchers noted.

Do tea, berries and wine protect against frailty and mental decline?

Flavonoids found in black tea, blueberries and red wine could contribute to long-term health, according to a study that tracked over 86,000 adults as they aged.

Writing in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers from Edith Cowan University, Queen’s University Belfast and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health examined associations between consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and indicators of unhealthy aging—namely frailty, impaired physical function and poor mental health.

“We found that participants who increased their intake of flavonoid-rich food by three servings a day, had a 6% to 11% lower risk across all three of the aging outcomes in females and a 15% lower risk of poor mental health in males,” study author Professor Eric Rimm from Harvard University shared in press release. “Overall, these findings underscore the potential for simple dietary modifications to impact overall quality of life and contribute to the optimization of healthy aging.”

Review underscores ergothioneine’s anti-aging potential for cognitive function

Ergothioneine, an ‘under-recognized’ compound, may improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, says a recent review that highlights the ingredient’s potential in the emerging healthspan category.

Analysis of 19 studies, including cellular, animal and human clinical and observational studies published over the past 10 years, indicated that ergothioneine (ET) plays a role in neurotransmission and neuroprotection, thereby offering cognitive improvements.

The compound’s antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antisenescence properties were linked to its potential to slow age-related neurodegenerative disorders, according to scientists from Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

Writing in Inflammopharmacology, the researchers said ergothioneine’s potential is “undeniable” but indicated that some key knowledge gaps remain, notably around the “optimal doses of ET for cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection… [and] the need to investigate the bioavailability of ET across different formulations, such as pure ET and dietary sources.”

Tuna byproduct shows promise for slowing cellular aging in women

A functional beverage containing a tuna-derived oil may improve brain function and slow cellular aging in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, according to a study from researchers at Khon Kaen University in Thailand.

Published in the journal Antioxidants, the research evaluated the effects of a DHA-enriched functional beverage containing soy protein, tuna oil, sunflower seed oil, ground black sesame and a vitamin B complex on the emerging link between cellular senescence and menopause-related cognitive decline.

“Our results suggest the potential of a functional beverage containing DHA-enriched tuna oil with respect to improving the cognition of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women,” they reported. “The mechanism responsible may depend on the dose of the functional beverage.”

The unique signatures of the aging gut and what it means for health

The human gut microbiome undergoes significant changes throughout the lifespan, with research suggesting that gut microbiome ‘signatures’ in older adults appear to be distinct from those seen in young people. But how is this linked to health and longevity?

At this year’s IPA World Congress + Probiota, Dr. Sean Gibbons, associate professor at the Institute for Systems Biology, discussed his team’s latest research into the drivers of healthy gut aging signatures and the potential metabolic consequences.

The researchers looked at data from two cohorts: the Arivale cohort (3,600 people between the ages of 18 and 90) and the MrOS cohort ( 1,000 men between the ages of 80 and 100.)

“We looked at a lot of different features in the microbiome to try to see what was most associated with aging across these various cohorts,” Dr. Gibbon said. “Of all the things that we could measure, this thing called ‘uniqueness’ ended up showing the strongest association with age in these populations.”

Scarlet beebalm extract may slow biological aging

Supplementation with an extract of scarlet beebalm may improve telomere length and stabilize DNA methylation age, according to a study from the University of Padua (Italy) and Mibelle Group Biochemistry.

Data published in GeroScience indicated that adults with self-reported stressful jobs consuming the extract of scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma L.) showed an increase in biological age of only 0.3 years compared to 1.8 years for those in the placebo group.

The extract, which is marketed as MonaJuventa Nu by Mibelle, was also found to reduce cortisol levels by 25% and improve measures of Quality of Life, compared to placebo, after 12 weeks of supplementation.

“Through extensive screening of various plants for epigenetic aging activity, we identified Monarda didyma as the most potent ingredient,” said Dr. Torsten Grothe, head of food and health at Mibelle Biochemistry and co-author on the new paper. “MonaJuventa Nu, rich in the anti-aging flavonoid didymin, stands out as the first botanical known to impact key aging processes, effectively countering nine of the twelve hallmarks of aging.”

Higher beta-carotene levels linked to younger biological age

Increasing levels of the carotenoid beta-carotenoid is associated with longer telomeres, a marker of biological age, in overweight and obese Americans, according to a recent study.

“Our study found that increasing serum carotenoid levels were significantly associated with longer telomere lengths in overweight or obese U.S. populations,” the Chinese researchers wrote in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. “The increase in carotenoid levels had a more significant effect on telomere length in obese individuals compared to overweight individuals.”

Interestingly, they did not find a relationship between carotenoids concentrations and telomere length in non-overweight or non-obese individuals. No benefits were associated with levels of alpha-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin and trans-lycopene.

Omega-3s may delay aging by ‘reprogramming energy metabolism’

Supplementation with omega-3s may help maintain energy metabolism to preserve the function of key organs and inhibit pathological age-related changes, all of which may help delay the aging process, according to a study from China.

Data from the mouse study showed that omega-3s, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular, may activate peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha), which plays an important role in a number of functions, including energy and lipid metabolism, inflammation, brain function and diabetes.

The fatty acids were also associated with elevations in the production of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source for tissues, reported scientists from Southern Medical University (Guangzhou), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou), and Guangdong University of Technology (Guangzhou).

“Our research confirms the anti-aging effects of omega-3 PUFAs in multiple organs and provides strong evidence to support the idea of daily supplementation of omega-3 PUFAs, with caution of effective forms and purity, to help healthy aging,” they wrote in Pharmacological Research.

C15:0 may benefit cognitive health in humans based on dolphin research

Essential fatty acid C15:0 holds promise to address cognitive health in humans, according to a study funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research that examines aging-associated conditions in dolphins.

Writing in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers showed that, like human beings, bottlenose dolphins can experience amyloid-ꞵ plaques and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with memory. According to the research, C15:0 has two dose-dependent activities shown in animal models to decrease amyloid-ꞵ plaques, neuroinflammation and improve cognitive health.

Specifically, C15:0 inhibited fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and inhibited monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), which may contribute to cognitive decline.

“While C15:0 is known to be a pleiotropic nutrient with multiple beneficial mechanisms of action, we were surprised to find two entirely new C15:0 activities specifically relevant to brain health,” Stephanie Venn-Watson, an author on the paper, told NutraIngredients. “By inhibiting MAO-B and FAAH, C15:0 supports healthy dopamine and endocannabinoid levels, both of which protect our long-term cognitive health.”

Moldavian dragonhead extract reduces key aging skin markers

DracoBelle Nu sd, a Moldavian dragonhead extract, may enhance collagen production, hydration and skin thickness, according to new research funded by Mibelle Biochemistry.

Researchers from the Switzerland-based supplier, investigated the effect of the company’s botanical extract on various markers of aging skin in women between the ages of 35 and 65. They concluded that it may be particularly beneficial for older individuals whose skin tends to become more vulnerable with age.

Higher coffee consumption linked to lower risk of frailty

Drinking at least four cups of coffee a day may help people age better by reducing their risk of frailty, according to a seven-year study.

The findings, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, stem from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), which analyzed data from 1,161 community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older and evaluated both current and retrospective coffee consumption.

“The health benefits associated with coffee consumption are often attributed to the presence of various bioactive compounds in coffee, such as caffeine and polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” wrote the researchers from the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute. “Considering the involvement of inflammation and neuroendocrine dysregulation in the pathophysiology of frailty, coffee consumption may also be linked to a lower risk of frailty.”

The study was funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), a nonprofit organization supported by major coffee companies including illycaffè, JDE Peet’s, Lavazza, Paulig and Tchibo.