Diet quality, physical activity and epigenetic ageing in the Finnish working-age population - UTU Tutkimustietojärjestelmä

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Diet quality, physical activity and epigenetic ageing in the Finnish working-age population

Tekijät: Autio, Ida; Saarinen, Aino; Marttila, Saara; Raitoharju, Emma; Mishra, Pashupati P.; Pahkala, Katja; Männistö, Satu; Mononen, Nina; Kähönen, Mika; Fogelholm, Mikael; Tammelin, Tuija; Rovio, Suvi; Keltikangas-Järvinen, Liisa; Viikari, Jorma; Raitakari, Olli; Lehtimäki, Terho

Julkaisuvuosi: 2026

Lehti: Journal of Nutrition

Artikkelin numero: 101540

ISSN: 0022-3166

eISSN: 1541-6100

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101540

Julkaisun avoimuus kirjaamishetkellä: Avoimesti saatavilla

Julkaisukanavan avoimuus : Osittain avoin julkaisukanava

Verkko-osoite: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101540

Tiivistelmä

Background

The role of diet in epigenetic ageing over long follow-up periods and the possible moderating role of physical activity have remained unclear.

Objective

We examined (1) whether dietary habits over follow-ups of 17–32 years are associated with level or change of epigenetic ageing over a seven-year follow-up and (2) whether physical activity moderates these associations.

Methods

The prospective population-based Young Finns Study data (n = 1039) was used. Epigenetic ageing was measured in 2011 and 2018 using AgeDev_Pheno, AgeDev_Grim, and DunedinPACE. Food frequency questionnaires were used in 2001, 2007, 2011 and 2018 to calculate five diet indices: Mediterranean Diet Index, Findiet Index, Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) Dietscore (additionally used in 1986) and Baltic Sea Diet Index. The applied physical activity index included e.g. frequency and intensity of exercise. Covariates included cardiovascular and metabolic factors, other health behaviours, and socioeconomic factors.

Results

More favourable scores in (1) all diet indices except Dietscore were associated with decelerated AgeDev_Grim cross-sectionally (β = –0.08 to –0.06, p = 0.003–0.022), (2) all diet indices averaged over follow-ups of 17–32 years were associated with slower epigenetic ageing in all three epigenetic clocks (β = –0.01 to –0.23, p = 2e–5–0.042), and (3) AHEI and Findiet index were most consistently associated with a decelerated change in AgeDev_Grim and AgeDev_Pheno over a seven-year follow-up. Modest interaction effects were also observed: among those with high physical activity, epigenetic ageing was approximately similar irrespective of diet healthiness, whereas among those with low physical activity, more favourable diet index scores were associated with less accelerated epigenetic ageing.

Conclusions

Healthier eating over the follow-up was associated with decelerated epigenetic across different diet indices. In terms of biological ageing, having a healthy diet may be especially crucial for those with low levels of physical activity.

Julkaisussa olevat rahoitustiedot:
This study was supported by the Emil Aaltonen Foundation (grant 220255). The Young Finns Study has been financially supported by the Research Council of Finland: grants 356405, 322098, 286284, 134309 (Eye), 126925, 121584, 124282, 129378 (Salve), 117797 (Gendi), and 141071 (Skidi); the Social Insurance Institution of Finland; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Kuopio, Tampere and Turku University Hospitals (grant X51001); Juho Vainio Foundation; Paavo Nurmi Foundation; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research; Finnish Cultural Foundation; The Sigrid Juselius Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation; Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation; Diabetes Research Foundation of Finnish Diabetes Association; EU Horizon 2020 (grant 755320 for TAXINOMISIS and grant 848146 for To Aition); European Research Council (grant 742927 for MULTIEPIGEN project); Tampere University Hospital Supporting Foundation; Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry; the Cancer Foundation Finland; pBETTER4U_EU (Preventing obesity through Biologically and bEhaviorally Tailored inTERventions for you; project number: 101080117); CVDLink (EU grant nro. 101137278) and Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation. Pashupati P. Mishra was supported by the Research Council of Finland (Grant number: 349708) and Emma Raitoharju (grants: 330809, 338395). Katja Pahkala was also supported by the Research Council of Finland (grant 360452).