Association between vitamin intake and biological aging: evidence from NHANES 2007–2018

TL;DR

Higher intake of dietary vitamins, especially vitamin C, is linked to slower biological aging in adults.

Contribution

This study identifies vitamin C as the key driver of reduced biological aging in a mixture of 11 dietary vitamins.

Findings

Higher total vitamin intake was significantly associated with reduced biological aging across three indicators.

Vitamin C was the primary protective component, followed by vitamin B2.

The association was stronger in males and individuals with comorbidity.

Abstract

The combined effect of vitamin mixture on biological aging, along with the specific contribution of individual components, remains unclear. This study investigated the associations between a mixture of 11 dietary vitamins and biological aging.

This cross-sectional study included 15050 adults from NHANES 2007–2018. Daily intakes of 11 vitamins were estimated using the multiple source method to account for within-person variation from two 24 -h recalls, incorporating both food and supplement contributions. Total vitamin intake was calculated as their sum. Biological aging was assessed using three established indicators: KDM-acceleration and PhenoAge-acceleration (derived as regression residuals of biological age on chronological age), and homeostatic dysregulation (HD, a composite physiological score). Multiple linear regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and quantile g-computation were used to assess individual and joint associations.

The median age was 51.0 years, and 51.5% were female. Higher total vitamin intake was significantly associated with reduced biological aging (KDM-acceleration: β = −1.281; PhenoAge-acceleration: β = −1.379; HD: β = −0.046). Dose-response relationships were linear (all Pnonlinear > 0.05). Stratified analyses revealed stronger associations in males and individuals with comorbidity. Vitamin C was the primary protective component, followed by vitamin B2.

Higher intake of dietary vitamin mixture was associated with slower biological aging, with vitamin C as the key protective driver. These findings support recommending vitamin-rich diets to promote healthy aging.

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