A new study from researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that part of the Mediterranean diet’s health benefits may come from tiny proteins produced inside mitochondria, pointing to a possible link between diet, cellular aging, and disease risk.
Led by Roberto Vicinanza, Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology at USC Leonard Davis, the study found that people who followed a Mediterranean-style diet more closely had higher levels of two mitochondrial microproteins, humanin and SHMOOSE. Both have been associated with protection against cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration.
“These microproteins may act as molecular messengers that translate what we eat into how our cells function and age,” Vicinanza said. “It’s a new biological pathway that helps explain why the Mediterranean diet is so powerful.”
Diet, Mitochondria, and Aging
The Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oil, fish, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, and it has long been linked to lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Scientists are still working to understand exactly how it produces these benefits.
For the new study, researchers examined blood samples from older adults who varied in how closely they followed the diet. Participants with the strongest adherence had much higher levels of humanin and SHMOOSE, along with lower markers of oxidative stress, an important contributor to aging and chronic disease.
