Diet and lifestyle study finds methyl adaptogens can influence epigenetics.

Researchers at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) are exploring how methyl adaptogens—a natural compound found in rosemary, berries, and garlic—may help slow biological aging.

Their recent study, published on April 17 in the journal Aging and recently highlighted in SciTechDaily, investigated the impact of specific plants and whole foods on epigenetics, the cellular processes that regulate gene expression. 

Research was led by Jamie L. Villanueva, a postdoctoral fellow in the collaborative research training program between NUNM and the University of Washington, alongside NUNM affiliate researcher Dr. Ryan Bradley and co-investigators at the Helfgott Research Institute.  

In the paper entitled “Dietary associations with reduced epigenetic age: a secondary data analysis of the methylation diet and lifestyle study,” the team analyzed the capacity for turmeric, rosemary, garlic, berries, green tea, and oolong tea to support methylation and reduce stress.

Their study involved 43 healthy men between the ages of 50 and 72 in Portland, Oregon, who followed a comprehensive eight-week lifestyle program that focused on eating a plant-rich diet, regular physical activity, quality sleep, and stress management techniques. 

Results demonstrated that participants who consumed higher levels of these targeted foods saw the greatest reductions in biological age—some by more than three years. 

Researchers note that even when accounting for baseline age differences, a higher intake of methyl adaptogens continued to show significant anti-aging benefits. 

These findings expand on NUNM’s 2021 pilot study, which first explored how lifestyle and nutrition might reverse biological aging in older adults. They also reflect global research trends, with studies from Japan and Italy linking polyphenol-rich diets to slower or reversed epigenetic age effects. 

Although the findings are encouraging, researchers emphasize the need for larger and longer-term trials to further explore the mechanisms that may be involved. 

Reference: “Dietary associations with reduced epigenetic age: a secondary data analysis of the methylation diet and lifestyle study” by Jamie L. Villanueva, Alexandra Adorno Vita, Heather Zwickey, Kara Fitzgerald, Romilly Hodges, Benjamin Zimmerman and Ryan Bradley, 17 April 2025, Aging. DOI: 10.18632/aging.206240

Written by Ashley Villarreal, Marketing Content Specialist