Aging is a natural processcontinuous and progressive deterioration, which leads to a progressive deterioration of physical and mental capacities, as well as an increase in the risk of diseases according to the World Health Organization. Biological age refers to the bodily changes that usually occur with aging. It may differ in people with the same chronological age, due to lifestyles, or the consequences of diseases, rather than differences in actual aging, according to the MSD Manual. The biological aging process is therefore potentially modifiable thanks to changes in habits of lifein order to prevent age-related chronic diseases and extend healthy life expectancy.
Aging: regular consumption of tea would help reduce the acceleration of biological age
Scientists have been interested in the daily changes to be implemented to slow down biological aging, in a study published in January 2024 in the journal The Lancet Regional Health. Its goal ? Determine the impact of regular consumption Some tea on biological age. To do this, the researchers analyzed information relating to tea consumption and the biological age of 7,931 participants aged 30 to 79, from a Chinese cohort study, and around 6,000 other people aged 37 to 73 years old, from the UK Biobank. According to the scientists, this is the first longitudinal study to examine the association between tea consumption and biological aging measured by clinical biomarkers.
At the end of the study, the researchers observed thata shift from non-consumption to consumption of tea, as well as regular use of tea, could slightly attenuate the acceleration of biological age, compared to those who do not drink tea. They also concluded that the optimal daily tea intake to effectively slow biological aging was approximately 3 cups or 6 to 8 grams of tea leaves per day.
Longevity: why does tea help slow down biological aging?
In order to explain the impact of regular tea consumption on biological aging, researchers have put forward hypotheses about the reasons for this decrease. They explain that tea contains many bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, purine alkaloids, theanine, tea polysaccharides, and caffeine, which may be linked to its potential anti-aging effects. They add that polyphenols are the main bioactive substances in tea, and that numerous studies have demonstrated their effects on oxidative stress, in the response to inflammation, or even on the intestinal microbiota, which may itself have a role. important in the regulation of age-related changes in immunity, metabolism, and cognitive functions.
In addition to its many health benefits, tea could also be effective in slowing down biological aging. According to the scientists of the study, these “results underline the potential role of tea in the development of nutrition-focused anti-aging interventions and in guiding healthy aging policies”.
Sources:
- Tea consumption and attenuation of biological aging: a longitudinal analysis from two cohort studies – The Lancet Regional Health – January 2024
- Aging and health – World Health Organization
- Overview of Aging – MSD Manual