Diet, nutrition, and healthy aging: Are miRNAs the link? A narrative review

MicroRNAs are a class of small, single-stranded, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Cellular and circulating microRNA expression alterations have been observed in non-pathological aging and age-related diseases. microRNAs have been proposed to regulate aging signaling pathways, including cell death and senescence, oxidative stress, DNA damage, nutrient-sensing, and other metabolic processes. MicroRNAs may provide a molecular mechanism whereby diet can regulate gene expression, affecting aging phenotypes and lifespan. Herein, we review the recent evidence for diet in modulating the expression of microRNAs to influence the aging process. Current challenges and approaches to studying microRNAs and their function in the context of diet and aging research are highlighted in this review. Diet-mediated regulation of microRNA in aging is an emerging area of study, and future research incorporating functional analyses of dietary-responsive microRNAs will be necessary to clarify their actions in the aging process.