King's College London

As life expectancy increases, the attention and interest in safe and effective lifestyle interventions to promote healthy ageing are growing rapidly. One of the elements explored is that of unhealthy diets, with poor nutritional value. Therefore, lifestyle changes which include dietary interventions could promote positive effects, and potentially reduce the risk of developing ageing related diseases.

Previous studies showed that phytonutrients, natural compounds found in vegetables, fruits and berries, support health and lower the risk of age-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. The Mediterranean diet is mainly based on abundant phytonutrients. The Mediterranean diet consists of olive oil as the primary source of fat, fresh fruit, low to moderate amounts of seafood, poultry, dairy products, wine and eggs. Sweets containing sugar or honey and red meat are consumed sparingly. Adhering to this diet could be protective against several conditions.

DailyColors™ is a dietary supplement designed to mimic the benefits of the Mediterranean diet by providing important nutrients found in fruits, berries, and vegetables. These nutrients, like Quercetin and Anthocyanins, are known for their potential health benefits, particularly in aging.

This collaborative study led by Professor Dag Aarsland between Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing at King’s and Centre for Age-related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, aimed to explore how DailyColors™ affects certain blood markers linked to ageing and related diseases, such as how our cells produce energy, inflammation, and stress in the body. The study also assessed at changes in epigenetics through DNA methylation in saliva in collaboration with Muhdo Health, to provide indicators of biological ageing. Thirty adults, aged 55-80, with a body mass index over 25, participated in the study. Participants took either DailyColors™ or a placebo for one week, then switched after a break.

During the placebo phase, a blood marker called CD38, which is linked to poor cell function and inflammation, increased. This didn’t happen when participants took DailyColors™. There was also a trend showing reduced oxidative stress (a process that can damage cells) after taking the supplement.

In a follow-up study with 26 participants who continued to take DailyColors™ for a month, the study found changes in the way DNA is marked, which might slow down some of the negative effects of aging. Although the effects observed were minimal, the study suggests that DailyColors™ could help slow down certain aging processes. However, more extensive studies are needed to confirm these benefits.

A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Biological Effects and Safety of a Polyphenol Supplement on Healthy Ageing was published in Antioxidants.