The field of nutrition and healthy aging has garnered increasing attention as populations around the world experience prolonged life spans and rising age-related health challenges. Despite the recognition that dietary patterns and specific nutrients influence longevity and age-associated disease risk, the precise biological mechanisms through which diet modulates aging trajectories remain insufficiently understood. Current questions center on how dietary intake interacts with molecular and physiological pathways, and which biomarkers most accurately reflect these relationships. Recent studies have provided robust evidence linking particular dietary components and patterns—such as Mediterranean diets and plant-based foods—to improvements in markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic health, gut microbiota diversity, and cognitive and physical function. However, not all findings are consistent, and large knowledge gaps persist regarding the integration of molecular findings with clinical and population-level outcomes, especially in diverse and vulnerable groups. Many existing biomarkers lack validation for clinical or public health use, and there is an urgent need for translational frameworks that bridge basic science, clinical studies, and real-world applications.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of how diet influences biological processes relevant to healthy aging, emphasizing the identification and validation of actionable biomarkers across molecular, physiological, and population domains. The objective is to advance insights into diet-biomarker relationships, foster translational research that connects laboratory discoveries to clinical and public health settings, and inform the development of precision nutrition strategies. Central questions include which biomarkers most reliably capture the benefits of dietary interventions, how these relationships translate across diverse populations, and how molecular and digital approaches can be leveraged to support healthy aging.

To gather further insights in the translational connections between diet, biomarkers, and healthy aging, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Dietary patterns, bioactive compounds, and their effects on aging pathways
• Validation and application of nutrition-related biomarkers (e.g., for inflammation, redox status, metabolic health)
• The gut microbiome’s mediating role in diet and age-related health
• Mechanistic studies and digital/omics approaches informing precision nutrition
• Interventions in diverse or vulnerable populations and implications for health equity
• Policy, implementation, and public health perspectives on promoting healthy aging through nutrition

We invite original research articles, systematic reviews, mechanistic and translational studies, biomarker validation research, as well as digital and -omics-based investigations. Policy and real-world implementation perspectives are also encouraged.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Translational Perspectives on Healthy Aging: The Interplay of Diet, Biomarkers, and Functional Outcomes