Analysis of 10,977 NHANES participants found that dietary intake of epigallocatechin gallate, the principal catechin in green tea, was associated with reduced PhenoAge acceleration, lower all-cause mortality, and greater estimated residual life expectancy. Mechanistic work in C. elegans and mouse hepatocytes attributed these effects to increased peroxisome biogenesis and peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation, with lifespan and anti-senescence benefits abolished when key peroxisomal genes were silenced.
Key Points
- EGCG intake linked to slower PhenoAge acceleration and lower mortality
- Peroxisome biogenesis and β-oxidation drive lifespan extension in worms
- Silencing PEX5 or ACOX1 abolishes EGCG's anti-senescence effect in hepatocytes
Longevity Analysis
Peroxisomes handle very long-chain fatty acids that mitochondria cannot process, and their decline with age contributes to lipid accumulation and cellular senescence. Restoring this clearance capacity through a common dietary compound connects what is consumed daily to how efficiently cells process metabolic waste and sustain energy output, particularly in liver tissue. The dose-response pattern — benefit at both lower and higher intake categories — suggests consistent habitual exposure matters more than concentrated supplementation.
Original published by Wiley Aging Cell, by Xiaoming Huang, Yanfang Yang, Feng Huang, Wenwen Lin, Qiaowei Li, Yin Yuan, Pengli Zhu .