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Dietary patterns, food groups, and telomere length in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)^1,2,3

¹ From the Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX (JAN); the Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (AD-R); the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (NSJ); the Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (ALF); the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN (DRJ); and the Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (DRJ)

Background: Telomere length reflects biological aging and may be influenced by environmental factors, including those that affect inflammatory processes.

Objective: With data from 840 white, black, and Hispanic adults from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we studied cross-sectional associations between telomere length and dietary patterns and foods and beverages that were associated with markers of inflammation.

Design: Leukocyte telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Length was calculated as the amount of telomeric DNA (T) divided by the amount of a single-copy control DNA (S) (T/S ratio). Intake of whole grains, fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy, nuts or seeds, nonfried fish, coffee, refined grains, fried foods, red meat, processed meat, and sugar-sweetened soda were computed with responses to a 120-item food-frequency questionnaire completed at baseline. Scores on 2 previously defined empirical dietary patterns were also computed for each participant.

Results: After adjustment for age, other demographics, lifestyle factors, and intakes of other foods or beverages, only processed meat intake was associated with telomere length. For every 1 serving/d greater intake of processed meat, the T/S ratio was 0.07 smaller (β ± SE: –0.07 ± 0.03, P = 0.006). Categorical analysis showed that participants consuming 1 serving of processed meat each week had 0.017 smaller T/S ratios than did nonconsumers. Other foods or beverages and the 2 dietary patterns were not associated with telomere length.

Conclusions: Processed meat intake showed an expected inverse association with telomere length, but other diet features did not show their expected associations.