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The Mediterranean diet may help protect the heart, brain and aging cells by influencing tiny proteins produced by mitochondria, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC).
The study found that older adults who more closely followed the Mediterranean diet had higher blood levels of two mitochondrial microproteins, humanin and SHMOOSE. Both have previously been linked to protection against cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative conditions.
Researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology also found that closer adherence to the diet was associated with lower indicators of oxidative stress, a process that can damage cells and contribute to aging and chronic diseases.
The findings offer a possible explanation for how dietary choices influence cellular health, although further research is needed to establish whether the microproteins directly cause the benefits.
The study was led by Roberto Vicinanza, an instructional associate professor of gerontology at USC Leonard Davis.
“These microproteins may act as molecular messengers that translate what we eat into how our cells function and age,” Vicinanza said, describing the findings as a potential new biological pathway linking diet with healthy aging.
The Mediterranean diet typically includes olive oil, fish, beans, lentils, fruits and vegetables, while limiting heavily processed foods and refined carbohydrates. Previous research has associated the eating pattern with lower risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline.
In the latest study, researchers analysed blood samples from older adults whose adherence to the diet varied. Those who followed it more closely had significantly higher concentrations of humanin and SHMOOSE.
The researchers also found links between specific foods and the proteins. Higher consumption of olive oil, fish and legumes was associated with increased humanin levels. Olive oil consumption and lower intake of refined carbohydrates were linked to higher SHMOOSE levels.
USC Leonard Davis School Dean and USC Distinguished Professor Pinchas Cohen, the study’s senior author, said the findings suggest that components of the Mediterranean diet may influence mitochondrial biology.
He added that humanin and SHMOOSE could potentially serve as biomarkers to assess dietary patterns and their effects on health.
Mitochondria are best known for generating much of the energy cells need, but they also help regulate metabolism and cellular stress responses. Researchers have increasingly focused on the small proteins they produce and their potential role in aging and disease.
Humanin was first identified by Cohen and fellow researchers in 2003. Subsequent studies have linked it to insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health and protection against cognitive decline.
SHMOOSE was identified more recently by Cohen’s research team and has also attracted scientific interest for its potential role in cellular health.
The latest findings add to growing evidence that the benefits of a healthy diet may extend beyond individual nutrients to biological processes that influence how cells function over time.
However, the researchers’ findings establish an association between Mediterranean diet adherence and the two microproteins, rather than proving that the proteins themselves are responsible for the diet’s health benefits. Further studies will be needed to determine whether they could eventually be used to monitor or improve healthy aging.