USC Study Links Mediterranean Diet to Two Proteins — SkimNews
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- USC researchers analyzed blood samples from older adults whose eating habits matched the Mediterranean diet to different degrees; those closest to the pattern had significantly higher humanin and SHMOOSE concentrations and lower indicators of oxidative stress.
- Humanin levels were higher among participants who consumed more olive oil, fish and legumes; SHMOOSE was associated with olive oil consumption and eating fewer refined carbohydrates.
- Nox2 activity tended to be lower among people with higher humanin levels; the researchers said this raises the possibility that humanin limits damaging oxidative processes.
- SHMOOSE’s normal version appears to protect neurons from amyloid-related damage, while a genetic variant of the microprotein has been associated with increased Alzheimer’s disease risk.
- Roberto Vicinanza said humanin and SHMOOSE may act as molecular messengers that translate what people eat into cellular function and aging; senior author Pinchas Cohen said the findings suggest specific dietary components may influence mitochondrial biology.
- Pinchas Cohen said humanin and SHMOOSE could serve as biomarkers for adherence to the Mediterranean diet and have clinical significance.
- USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology researchers described the study as relatively small and observational, so it shows associations between diet and microprotein levels—not causation; participants’ overall health and lifestyle may also explain the results.
Why it matters: For USC’s gerontology team, the study identifies two named candidates—humanin and SHMOOSE—for assessing how closely older adults follow a Mediterranean pattern. The small observational result also supplies a concrete next test for diet interventions: determine whether raising the proteins improves cardiovascular health, brain function or disease risk.
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