Monoterpenes in Your Beverage: A Flavoring Catalyst for Faster Aging?

Background Aging is characterized by the progressive deterioration of tissue structure and physiological functions. While the impact of sugar and artificial sweeteners in beverages on biological aging, mediated through increased body mass index (BMI) and obesity, has been well-documented, the potential effects of other food additives, particularly monoterpenes, have not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to investigate the association between high exposure to monoterpenes in beverages and biological age acceleration. Methods Included in the current study were 1,217 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2013–2014. Beverage intake was assessed through the 24-hour dietary recall. Serum levels of three monoterpenes—limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene were used to estimate monoterpene exposure. Biological age was assessed using phenotypic age (PA), with acceleration calculated as the difference from chronological age. Multiple statistical approaches, including linear regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) models, quantile g-computation (Qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), were employed to analyze associations between beverage intake, monoterpene exposure and biological aging. Furthermore, mediation analyses were conducted to explore the mediated effects of monoterpenes and BMI on the association of beverage intake with PA acceleration. Results High beverage intake (β = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.26, 1.62) and increased exposure to monoterpenes, particularly limonene (β = 1.65, 95% CI: 0.55, 2.76) and β-pinene (β = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.53, 2.18), were associated with accelerated PA. In the RCS analyses, the effects of limonene and β-pinene on PA acceleration exhibited both linear and nonlinear. In the Qgcomp model, the mixed exposure of three monoterpenes had a significant positive relationship with PA acceleration (β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.37). Moreover, we observed antagonistic effects between limonene and each of α-pinene and β-pinene concerning the acceleration of biological aging in the BKMR model. Additionally, limonene and BMI were identified as parallel mediators of the relationship between beverage intake and PA acceleration. Conclusion The study provides novel insights into the detrimental effects of high monoterpene exposures in beverages on biological aging. These findings highlight the importance of considering a broader range of food additives in public health guidelines, as their impact on long-term health outcomes may be significant.