Body fat distribution and aging: Unveiling association and potential intervention strategies

IF 3.6 3区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Nutrition Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-21 DOI:10.1016/j.nut.2025.113034

Yu-Shuai Bai M.A. , Shuai-Xin Yu M.A. , Lin Xia M.A. , Xiao Liang M.A. , Ling-Yue Meng M.A. , Dong-Xia Zhao M.A. , Tao Li M.D. , Chen-Xuan Li M.B. , Bo-Zhao Li M.A. , Man Li M.D.

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Body mass index (BMI) has limitations in reflecting body fat distribution and its implications on health. This study utilized more precise indicators of body fat distribution, including trunk fat mass, limb fat mass, total fat mass and body fat percentage, to investigate their associations with biological aging.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2018 was analyzed. A weighted linear regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between body fat characteristics and phenotypic age (PhenoAge). A restrictive cubic spline curve was used to explore potential non-linear relationship. Subgroup analysis and mediation analysis were conducted. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.

Results

All body fat distribution indicators were positively correlated with PhenoAge, with trunk fat mass exhibiting the strongest association. Subgroup analyses revealed significant correlations across genders, age groups, and BMI categories. Mediation analysis identified C-reactive protein, the systemic immune-inflammation index, and the triglyceride-glucose index as partial mediators. MR analysis supported a causal relationship between body fat distribution and PhenoAge. Additionally, two-step MR analysis suggested a potential role of gut microbiota in linking body fat distribution and aging, while diet targeting gut microbiota diversity may mitigate the effects of body fat on aging.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of body fat management, particularly trunk fat, in aging prevention strategies. Optimizing dietary patterns to enhance gut microbiota diversity represents a promising approach to delaying biological aging.

查看原文本刊更多论文

体脂分布与衰老：揭示关联和潜在的干预策略。

背景：身体质量指数（BMI）在反映体脂分布及其对健康的影响方面存在局限性。本研究利用更精确的体脂分布指标，包括躯干脂肪质量、肢体脂肪质量、总脂肪质量和体脂百分比，来研究它们与生物衰老的关系。方法：对2015-2018年国家健康与营养检查调查（NHANES）数据进行分析。采用加权线性回归模型分析体脂特征与表型年龄（PhenoAge）之间的关系。使用限制性三次样条曲线来探索潜在的非线性关系。进行亚组分析和中介分析。使用全基因组关联研究（GWAS）数据进行孟德尔随机化（MR）分析。结果：体脂分布各项指标均与表型年龄呈正相关，其中躯干脂肪量相关性最强。亚组分析揭示了性别、年龄组和BMI类别之间的显著相关性。中介分析发现c反应蛋白、全身免疫-炎症指数和甘油三酯-葡萄糖指数是部分中介。MR分析支持体脂分布与表型之间的因果关系。此外，两步磁共振分析提示肠道微生物群在体脂分布和衰老之间的潜在作用，而针对肠道微生物群多样性的饮食可能会减轻体脂对衰老的影响。结论：本研究强调了体脂管理，特别是躯干脂肪管理在预防衰老策略中的重要性。优化饮食模式以增强肠道微生物群多样性是延缓生物衰老的一种有希望的方法。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nutrition 医学-营养学

CiteScore

7.80

自引率

2.30%

发文量

300

审稿时长

60 days

期刊介绍： Nutrition has an open access mirror journal Nutrition: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. Founded by Michael M. Meguid in the early 1980''s, Nutrition presents advances in nutrition research and science, informs its readers on new and advancing technologies and data in clinical nutrition practice, encourages the application of outcomes research and meta-analyses to problems in patient-related nutrition; and seeks to help clarify and set the research, policy and practice agenda for nutrition science to enhance human well-being in the years ahead.