Summary
This cross-sectional analysis of 5448 U.S. adults from NHANES examined the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and telomere length, a cellular marker of ageing. Each additional 100 g of combined fruit and vegetable intake was associated with telomeres 27.8 base pairs longer, equivalent to approximately 1.9 years of reduced biological ageing. Sex-stratified analyses revealed both fruits and vegetables predicted telomere length in women, whilst only vegetable intake showed significant association in men.
Regional applicability
The study is set in the United States and findings may not directly transfer to United Kingdom populations, which may differ in fruit and vegetable consumption patterns, dietary sources, and overall diet composition. However, the biological mechanism linking produce intake to cellular ageing is plausibly universal and could inform UK dietary recommendations if replicated in UK cohorts.
Key measures
Telomere length (base pairs); fruit and vegetable intake (grams per day); dietary assessment via 24-hour recall; chronological age
Outcomes reported
The study examined the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption (assessed via 24-hour dietary recall) and telomere length (measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction) as a marker of cellular ageing. Associations were tested in a large cross-sectional sample with adjustment for covariates.
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