Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018

Abstract Background Aging is closely linked to chronic diseases, and gut microbiota plays a significant role in this process. The Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM), a novel tool reflecting the potential impact of diet on gut microbiota diversity, has an unclear association with biological agi...

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Main Authors: Boming Xu, Yingxuan Huang, Yilin Zeng, Peizhong Chen, Yubin Wang, Xiaoqiang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01007-w
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author Boming Xu
Yingxuan Huang
Yilin Zeng
Peizhong Chen
Yubin Wang
Xiaoqiang Liu
author_facet Boming Xu
Yingxuan Huang
Yilin Zeng
Peizhong Chen
Yubin Wang
Xiaoqiang Liu
author_sort Boming Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Aging is closely linked to chronic diseases, and gut microbiota plays a significant role in this process. The Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM), a novel tool reflecting the potential impact of diet on gut microbiota diversity, has an unclear association with biological aging. This study aimed to evaluate the association between DI-GM and phenotypic age acceleration (PAA), revealing the potential regulatory effect of diet on aging. Methods Data from 29,435 participants in NHANES 1999–2018 were analyzed using multivariable regression models to assess the association between DI-GM scores and PAA. Phenotypic age was estimated from 10 physiological indicators, with PAA defined as a positive age acceleration residual (ACR). DI-GM was constructed from 14 dietary components; higher scores indicate greater potential benefits to gut microbiota. Results Higher DI-GM scores were significantly associated with a lower risk of PAA. After adjusting for covariates, each 1-point increase in DI-GM was linked to a 7% reduction in PAA risk (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.91–0.95, P < 0.001) and a decrease of 0.33 in ACR (β = -0.33, 95% CI = -0.39 to -0.26, P < 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. Conclusions Higher DI-GM scores are significantly associated with reduced phenotypic age acceleration. Dietary improvements that promote gut microbiota health may effectively delay aging, providing scientific evidence for dietary interventions aimed at healthy aging.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-e8d5352963714a8ca153fb0f960ec6252025-08-20T03:46:03ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-07-0144111110.1186/s41043-025-01007-wAssociation of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018Boming Xu0Yingxuan Huang1Yilin Zeng2Peizhong Chen3Yubin Wang4Xiaoqiang Liu5Department of Gastroenterology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Gastroenterology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityAbstract Background Aging is closely linked to chronic diseases, and gut microbiota plays a significant role in this process. The Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DI-GM), a novel tool reflecting the potential impact of diet on gut microbiota diversity, has an unclear association with biological aging. This study aimed to evaluate the association between DI-GM and phenotypic age acceleration (PAA), revealing the potential regulatory effect of diet on aging. Methods Data from 29,435 participants in NHANES 1999–2018 were analyzed using multivariable regression models to assess the association between DI-GM scores and PAA. Phenotypic age was estimated from 10 physiological indicators, with PAA defined as a positive age acceleration residual (ACR). DI-GM was constructed from 14 dietary components; higher scores indicate greater potential benefits to gut microbiota. Results Higher DI-GM scores were significantly associated with a lower risk of PAA. After adjusting for covariates, each 1-point increase in DI-GM was linked to a 7% reduction in PAA risk (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.91–0.95, P < 0.001) and a decrease of 0.33 in ACR (β = -0.33, 95% CI = -0.39 to -0.26, P < 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. Conclusions Higher DI-GM scores are significantly associated with reduced phenotypic age acceleration. Dietary improvements that promote gut microbiota health may effectively delay aging, providing scientific evidence for dietary interventions aimed at healthy aging.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01007-wPhenotypic age acceleration (PAA)Dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM)AgingDietGut microbiotaNHANES
spellingShingle Boming Xu
Yingxuan Huang
Yilin Zeng
Peizhong Chen
Yubin Wang
Xiaoqiang Liu
Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Phenotypic age acceleration (PAA)
Dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM)
Aging
Diet
Gut microbiota
NHANES
title Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018
title_full Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018
title_fullStr Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018
title_full_unstemmed Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018
title_short Association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999–2018
title_sort association of a newly proposed dietary index for gut microbiota with phenotypic age acceleration a cross sectional study of nhanes 1999 2018
topic Phenotypic age acceleration (PAA)
Dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM)
Aging
Diet
Gut microbiota
NHANES
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01007-w
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