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Nutrition, Diet and Longevity

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2019) | Viewed by 25291

Special Issue Editors

Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Specialistiche ed Odontostomatologiche (DISCO)-Sez. Biochimica, Facoltà di Medicina, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging is a complex biological process involving the progressive breakdown of cellular homeostatic mechanisms and buildup of molecular damage affecting molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, system, organism, and even psychological levels of animals, which causes disease progress and a gradual decline in physical and mental function and increases death probability. Traditionally, aging has been considered to be “natural” and therefore inevitable. However, many modern evolutionary theories of aging suggest that it is a byproduct of evolutionary processes and does not have a specific function. This would imply that aging is susceptible to manipulation, similarly to other processes, such as pathologies. In fact, life expectancy has dramatically increased in the last century, although this process has not been always accompanied by an equivalent increase in healthy life expectancy. At population level, this implies a reduction in the number of deaths at young and middle age, but also that elderly persons live more years. However, extending longevity without decreasing the risk of age-associated pathologies would not be desirable. In fact, lifespan extension research has traditionally raised concerns that it may lead to an increase in the size of the elderly population and, consequently, a higher prevalence of aging-associated chronic pathologies and disability. For this reason, the primary strategy in gerontology and geriatric research has been to reduce morbidity to a shorter as possible period closer to the “natural” death. Thus, many scientific studies have tried to delay the age of onset of major age-related chronic diseases. In other words, research has been more focused on extending “healthspan” rather than lifespan. With this background, an ideal geroprotector should not only extend to lifespan extension, but also healthspan, since this last is a critical component to achieving optimal longevity that has been defined as “living long, but with good health and quality of life, including improved functioning, productivity and independence”.

Earlier increases in life expectancy during the last century occurred after the implementation of vaccination, disinfectants, and antibiotics, which led to a substantial reduction of infectious diseases as a cause of death. In contrast, more recent declines in mortality among the elderly have been commonly attributed to preventative factors, such as improved diets, as well as a reduction in smoking and exercise. This is particularly interesting, since numerous experimental studies in animals have shown that the extension of lifespan by modifying such factors is usually accompanied by delayed or reduced morbidity, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and tumors.

In the dietary context, some foods would be able to supply a significant amount of compounds to the human diet, including non-nutrients which are thought to contribute to healthy aging, increasing healthspan and probably lifespan. The term “geroprotectors” was coined to describe these molecules by gerontologist Ilya Mechnikov, whose initial definition had as a primary criterion the ability to increase the lifespan of model organisms. More recently, it has been proposed that geroprotectors should not only prolong lifespan extension, but also healthspan. In addition, the term can be extended to any intervention, including modifications of the diet energy and/or macronutrient balance. Geroprotective interventions would positively influence health by slowing basic biological processes of aging, such as cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, age-related decline of stress resistance, dysregulated cellular energy sensing/growth pathways, impaired proteostasis, deteriorated stem cell function/bioavailability, as well as inflammation/oxidative stress. Extending life by delaying the aging process per se may prove to be the most efficient way to combat multiple chronic and disabling diseases currently present in elderly adults, since this strategy would delay or prevent all age-associated pathologies rather than overcome them individually, which is the current approach of the disease-based paradigm of drug development. Importantly, some interventions which are effective against aging-associated pathologies in humans could also act as geroprotectors. Therefore, preventive therapies which increase lifespan by slowing the aging process have become a high priority science challenge for disease prevention.

As many pathways determining aging and longevity are highly conserved across species, many life-extending interventions have been carried out in animals which are expected to be effective for humans. Notwithstanding, there are still no geroprotectors on the market, despite the fact that geroprotector discovery is a popular biomedicine trend. This Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled “Nutrition, Diet, and Longevity" welcomes the submission of manuscripts describing either original research (clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and experiments conducted in animal models) or systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examine the potential effect of diets or particular compounds present in foods on healthspan or lifespan. Potential topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Influences of the diet on human lifespan and healthspan;
  • Influences of the diet on human aging rate and aging mechanisms;
  • Experimental studies on dietary interventions or natural products or compounds from foods with effects on lifespan, healthspan, or aging mechanisms;
  • Experimental studies on diet quantitative and/or qualitative modifications with effects on lifespan, healthspan, or aging mechanisms;
  • Experimental studies on dietary interventions and health outcomes in older age in both animals and humans;
  • Experimental studies on dietary interventions and health outcomes in older age in both animals and humans;
  • Nutrition and healthy aging;
  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of interventions to increase lifespan and healthspan;
  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies of nutrition and health outcomes in older age.

Prof. José L. Quiles
Dr. Alfonso Varela-López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Ageing/aging
  • Physical function
  • Cognitive function
  • Longevity
  • Lifespan
  • Geroprotector
  • Dietary macronutrient composition and energy balance
  • Nutrition
  • Diet
  • Ageing/aging rate
  • Natural product
  • Food supplement
  • Phytonutrients
  • Geroscience
  • Gerontology
  • “Antiaging medicine”
  • Biogerontology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2747 KiB  
Article
Heart Histopathology and Mitochondrial Ultrastructure in Aged Rats Fed for 24 Months on Different Unsaturated Fats (Virgin Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or Fish Oil) and Affected by Different Longevity
by María D. Navarro-Hortal, César L. Ramírez-Tortosa, Alfonso Varela-López, José M. Romero-Márquez, Julio J. Ochoa, MCarmen Ramírez-Tortosa, Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernández, Sergio Granados-Principal, Maurizio Battino and José L. Quiles
Nutrients 2019, 11(10), 2390; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102390 - 07 Oct 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4519
Abstract
Diet plays a decisive role in heart physiology, with lipids having especial importance in pathology prevention and development. This study aimed to investigate how dietary lipids varying in lipid profile (virgin olive oil, sunflower oil or fish oil) affected the heart of rats [...] Read more.
Diet plays a decisive role in heart physiology, with lipids having especial importance in pathology prevention and development. This study aimed to investigate how dietary lipids varying in lipid profile (virgin olive oil, sunflower oil or fish oil) affected the heart of rats during aging. Heart histopathology, mitochondrial morphometry, and oxidative status were assessed. Typical histopathological features associated with aging, such as valvular lesions, endomyocardical hyperplasia, or papillary muscle calcification, were found at a low extent in all the experimental groups. The most relevant finding was that inflammation registered by fish oil group was lower compared to the other treatments. At the ultrastructural level, heart mitochondrial area, perimeter, and aspect ratio were higher in fish oil-fed rats than in those fed on sunflower oil. Concerning oxidative stress markers, there were differences only in coenzyme Q levels and catalase activity, lower in sunflower oil-fed animals compared with those fed on fish oil. In summary, dietary intake for a long period on dietary fats with different fatty acids profile led to differences in some aspects associated with the aging process at the heart. Fish oil seems to be the fat most protective of heart during aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Diet and Longevity)
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18 pages, 2423 KiB  
Article
Sugar Beet Pectin Supplementation Did Not Alter Profiles of Fecal Microbiota and Exhaled Breath in Healthy Young Adults and Healthy Elderly
by Ran An, Ellen Wilms, Agnieszka Smolinska, Gerben D.A. Hermes, Ad A.M. Masclee, Paul de Vos, Henk A. Schols, Frederik J. van Schooten, Hauke Smidt, Daisy M.A.E. Jonkers, Erwin G. Zoetendal and Freddy J. Troost
Nutrients 2019, 11(9), 2193; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092193 - 12 Sep 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6436
Abstract
Aging is accompanied with increased frailty and comorbidities, which is potentially associated with microbiome perturbations. Dietary fibers could contribute to healthy aging by beneficially impacting gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. We aimed to compare young adults with elderly and investigate the effect of [...] Read more.
Aging is accompanied with increased frailty and comorbidities, which is potentially associated with microbiome perturbations. Dietary fibers could contribute to healthy aging by beneficially impacting gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. We aimed to compare young adults with elderly and investigate the effect of pectin supplementation on fecal microbiota composition, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel design. Fifty-two young adults and 48 elderly consumed 15 g/day sugar beet pectin or maltodextrin for four weeks. Fecal and exhaled breath samples were collected before and after the intervention period. Fecal samples were used for microbiota profiling by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and for analysis of SCFAs by gas chromatography (GC). Breath was used for VOC analysis by GC-tof-MS. Young adults and elderly showed similar fecal SCFA and exhaled VOC profiles. Additionally, fecal microbiota profiles were similar, with five genera significantly different in relative abundance. Pectin supplementation did not significantly alter fecal microbiota, SCFA or exhaled VOC profiles in elderly or young adults. In conclusion, aside from some minor differences in microbial composition, healthy elderly and young adults showed comparable fecal microbiota composition and activity, which were not altered by pectin supplementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Diet and Longevity)
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Review

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33 pages, 1636 KiB  
Review
The Paradox of Coenzyme Q10 in Aging
by M. Elena Díaz-Casado, José L. Quiles, Eliana Barriocanal-Casado, Pilar González-García, Maurizio Battino, Luis C. López and Alfonso Varela-López
Nutrients 2019, 11(9), 2221; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092221 - 14 Sep 2019
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 13322
Abstract
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an essential endogenously synthesized molecule that links different metabolic pathways to mitochondrial energy production thanks to its location in the mitochondrial inner membrane and its redox capacity, which also provide it with the capability to work as an antioxidant. [...] Read more.
Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an essential endogenously synthesized molecule that links different metabolic pathways to mitochondrial energy production thanks to its location in the mitochondrial inner membrane and its redox capacity, which also provide it with the capability to work as an antioxidant. Although defects in CoQ biosynthesis in human and mouse models cause CoQ deficiency syndrome, some animals models with particular defects in the CoQ biosynthetic pathway have shown an increase in life span, a fact that has been attributed to the concept of mitohormesis. Paradoxically, CoQ levels decline in some tissues in human and rodents during aging and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation has shown benefits as an anti-aging agent, especially under certain conditions associated with increased oxidative stress. Also, CoQ10 has shown therapeutic benefits in aging-related disorders, particularly in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Thus, we discuss the paradox of health benefits due to a defect in the CoQ biosynthetic pathway or exogenous supplementation of CoQ10. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Diet and Longevity)
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