Integrating biological age, epigenetic clocks, and telomere length in precision nutrition strategies for chronic disease management: Potential frameworks and ongoing challenges

Abstract

Precision nutrition is emerging as a transformative strategy for optimizing health, particularly in the context of biological aging and chronic disease prevention. This review aims to examine how biological age markers—specifically telomere length and epigenetic clocks—can be integrated into precision nutrition frameworks to personalize interventions, enhance chronic disease management, and support healthy aging. Telomere length is a widely studied biomarker of aging and chronic disease risk, while epigenetic clocks, based on DNA methylation patterns, offer complementary insights into biological age, gene expression, and disease susceptibility. Nutritional interventions rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, B vitamins, and anti-inflammatory compounds have shown potential to modulate these biomarkers, supporting cellular health and delaying aging processes. In addition, lifestyle factors such as physical activity, stress management, and adequate sleep play critical roles in maintaining telomere integrity and epigenetic stability. However, challenges remain in translating these biomarkers into clinical practice. Importantly, variability is not the only barrier; most of these biomarkers still lack clinical validation, and there is no consensus on standardized protocols or reference values that would support their routine application in healthcare. Current guidelines recommend combining telomere length and epigenetic age with other molecular markers, such as multi-omics data, within integrative biological age assessment approaches. Nevertheless, translating this approach into clinical practice will require overcoming significant limitations, including the validation of biomarkers, standardization of measurement techniques, cost-effectiveness, and the development of clear clinical guidelines. Continued research is essential to confirm their predictive value and practical utility in precision nutrition strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging and preventing chronic diseases.