ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrigenomics
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1659730
MiRNA-3 Age: A microRNA-Based Biological Age Model and Its Modulation by Lifestyle and Nutrition
Provisionally accepted
- University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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The notable extension of human longevity over recent centuries has highlighted a concerning divergence between chronological lifespan and functional healthspan, emphasizing the critical need for robust biomarkers to identify and potentially ameliorate periods of age-related morbidity. Our investigation examined microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential aging indicators to potentially complement existing omics-based biomarkers, establishing a multifaceted framework for developing healthy aging interventions for subsequent generations.Drawing on an extensive literature review, we identified miR-24, miR-21, and miR-155 as strong candidates for involvement in aging-related processes, particularly inflammatory senescence. Based on this hypothesis, we analyzed capillary blood miRNA ΔCt values from a heterogeneous adult population and developed the "miRNA-3Age" model. This algorithm was constructed through statistical regression analysis and quantitative methodologies, incorporating the three miRNA ΔCt values to predict biological age with significant accuracy.Accumulating scientific evidence demonstrates that dietary components, including both macro-and micronutrients, as well as bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols-possess the capacity to modulate miRNA expression profiles. Therefore, we further explored the complex interrelationships between environmental determinants and nutritional parameters in the context of biological aging. By incorporating a lifestyle assessment model constructed from self-reported participant information, we identified significant associations between various behavioral determinants (including physical exercise, stress, and smoking), nutritional components (such as fish intake, whole-grain consumption, and green tea consumption), and biological age as determined by our miRNA-3Age model.
Keywords: epigenetics, microRNA, Aging, nutrition, lifestyle, Healthspan, Aging clock, Biological Age. (Min
Received: 04 Jul 2025; Accepted: 23 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Schneider, Preyer, Steil, Pointner, Haslberger and Hippe. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Berit Hippe, bh@healthbiocare.at
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