Elevated urinary phytoestrogens are associated with delayed biological aging: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data

Mar 13, 2025Scientific reports

Higher levels of plant-based estrogen compounds in urine are linked to slower biological aging

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Abstract

Elevated urinary total is associated with a 40% lower odds of accelerated aging.

Higher urinary concentrations of total phytoestrogens and correlate with less advanced biological aging indicators.
show a significant association with less advanced but not with homeostatic dysregulation.
After adjusting for various factors, total phytoestrogens and enterolignans are linked to lower odds of accelerated aging.
Associations between phytoestrogens and biological aging indicators are weaker in non-overweight/obese individuals and current smokers.
Findings suggest a potential relationship between dietary phytoestrogen consumption and slower biological aging.

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Dietary have been suggested to provide protection against numerous age-related diseases. However, their effects on biological aging remain unclear. In this study, we cross-sectionally investigated the relationship between urinary phytoestrogen levels and indicators of biological aging using data from 7,981 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2010. Urinary concentrations of six phytoestrogens, including four and two , were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) or HPLC-atmospheric pressure photoionization-tandem MS, and standardized using urinary creatinine. Three indicators of (BA), namely the Klemera-Doubal method biological age (KDM-BA), phenotypic age (PA), and homeostatic dysregulation (HD), were derived from 12 clinical biomarkers, advanced-BAs were calculated to quantify the differences between individuals' BAs and chronological age, and individuals with all positive advanced-BAs were defined as accelerated-aging. Weighted linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors and history of chronic diseases, elevated urinary total phytoestrogen and enterolignans were significantly associated with less advanced-KDM, advanced-PA, and advanced-HD, whereas elevated urinary isoflavones was significantly associated with less advanced-KDM and advanced-PA but not with advanced-HD. Weighted logistic regression showed that higher urinary levels of total phytoestrogen (highest Q4 vs. lowest Q1: OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.44, 0.80; P-trend = 0.002) and enterolignans (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.45, 0.76; P-trend < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower odds of accelerated-aging, but this was not significant for isoflavones (Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.60, 1.08; P-trend = 0.05). Subgroup analyses showed that negative associations were attenuated in non-overweight/obese participants and current cigarette smokers. In conclusion, higher levels of urinary phytoestrogens are related to markers of slower biological aging, suggesting an anti-aging effect of higher dietary phytoestrogen consumption, which warrants further investigations in longitudinal or interventional settings.

Key numbers

0.60

Lower Odds of Accelerated Aging

Odds ratio comparing highest quartile vs. lowest quartile of total phytoestrogen levels.

7,981

Study Population Size

Total number of participants included in the analysis.

0.69 ng/mg creatinine

Median Urinary Total Phytoestrogen Level

Median concentration of total measured in the study.

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Elevated urinary phytoestrogens are associated with delayed biological aging: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data

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