Background Heterogeneity in ageing rates drives the need for research into lifestyle secrets of successful agers. Biological age, predicted by epigenetic clocks, has been shown to be a more reliable measure of ageing than chronological age. Dietary habits are known to affect the ageing process. However, much remains to be learnt about specific dietary habits that may directly affect the biological process of ageing. Objective To identify food groups that are directly related to biological ageing, using Copula Graphical Models. Methods We performed a preregistered analysis of 3,990 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative, based in North America. Biological age acceleration was calculated by the epigenetic clock PhenoAge using whole-blood DNA methylation. Copula Graphical Modelling, a powerful data-driven exploratory tool, was used to examine relations between food groups and biological ageing whilst adjusting for an extensive amount of confounders. Two food group–age acceleration networks were established: one based on the MyPyramid food grouping system and another based on item-level food group data. Results Intake of eggs, organ meat, sausages, cheese, legumes, starchy vegetables, added sugar and lunch meat was associated with biological age acceleration, whereas intake of peaches/nectarines/plums, poultry, nuts, discretionary oil and solid fat was associated with decelerated ageing. Conclusion We identified several associations between specific food groups and biological ageing. These findings pave the way for subsequent studies to ascertain causality and magnitude of these relationships, thereby improving the understanding of biological mechanisms underlying the interplay between food groups and biological ageing.

中文翻译：

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确定食物类别与生物衰老之间的关系：数据驱动的方法


背景 老龄化速度的异质性促使人们需要研究成功老龄化者的生活方式秘密。通过表观遗传时钟预测的生物年龄已被证明是比实际年龄更可靠的衰老衡量标准。众所周知，饮食习惯会影响衰老过程。然而，关于可能直接影响衰老生物学过程的特定饮食习惯，还有很多东西有待了解。目的 使用 Copula 图形模型识别与生物衰老直接相关的食物组。方法 我们对来自北美妇女健康倡议组织的 3,990 名绝经后妇女进行了预注册分析。生物年龄加速是通过表观遗传时钟 PhenoAge 使用全血 DNA 甲基化来计算的。 Copula 图形模型是一种强大的数据驱动探索工具，用于检查食物组与生物衰老之间的关系，同时调整大量混杂因素。建立了两个食物组年龄加速网络：一个基于 MyPyramid 食物分组系统，另一个基于项目级食物组数据。结果鸡蛋、内脏、香肠、奶酪、豆类、淀粉类蔬菜、添加糖和午餐肉的摄入量与生物年龄加速相关，而桃子/油桃/李子、家禽、坚果、任选油和固体脂肪的摄入量与生物年龄加速相关。减缓衰老。结论 我们确定了特定食物类别与生物衰老之间的多种关联。这些发现为后续研究确定这些关系的因果关系和程度铺平了道路，从而提高了对食物组与生物衰老之间相互作用的生物学机制的理解。