(P19-051-23) Dietary Carbohydrate Quality Is Associated With Epigenetic Age Acceleration: A Longitudinal Study of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Cohort

Objectives: Unlike chronological age, which is based on birthdate, epigenetic age informs us about the true age of our organ systems. Epigenetic age acceleration measures are used to assess whether epigenetic age is older than chronological age. Studies about quality of dietary carbohydrates (CHO) associated with epigenetic age acceleration are scarce despite evidence that CHO quality may be more important for health than grams of total CHO/day consumed. Therefore, we aimed to identify the association between CHO quality and epigenetic age acceleration in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

Methods: Using data from 1,019 Black and White adults, CHO:fiber ratio was created to define CHO quality (greater CHO:fiber ratio representing lower CHO quality). GrimAge was calculated from DNA methylation data collected at follow-up years 15 and 20 and the corresponding acceleration measure GrimAge acceleration (GrimAA) was generated. Linear mixed-effects models were used, and random intercepts for individuals were included to account for correlations between measurements from the same individual over time. CHO quality was treated as a fixed effect.

Results: Average age of CARDIA participants was 40.3 years. The CHO:fiber ratio, but not total CHO or fiber, was positively associated with GrimAA (β=0.07, p=0.01) after adjusting for demographics (age, sex, race, field center, education) and lifestyle factors (energy intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking).

Conclusions: Our study finding suggests that CHO quality is inversely associated with biological aging and emphasizes the potential health benefit of CHO quality rather than the amount of CHO consumed.

Funding Sources: The CARDIA study is conducted and supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, and Kaiser Foundation Research Institute. Laboratory work and analytical components were funded by the American Heart Association (Northwestern University; Principal investigator, L.H.)