Lycopene use and diabetes prevalence in a cross-sectional NHANES study of epigenetic aging
In a cross-sectional analysis of 2381 NHANES 1999–2002 adults, lycopene use in the previous 30 days was the only supplement still linked to lower diabetes prevalence after full adjustment and false discovery rate correction; epigenetic aging biomarkers explained only a small part of this association. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The study was a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 1999–2002 adults with data on supplement use, diabetes and DNA methylation. [1]
Among 2381 participants, lycopene use in the previous 30 days remained associated with lower diabetes prevalence after full adjustment and false discovery rate correction. [1]
Epigenetic aging biomarkers explained only a small proportion of the lycopene–diabetes association, and the authors called for longitudinal studies. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional analysis of survey data (abstract)
- Population / context
- 2381 adults in NHANES 1999–2002 with data on dietary supplement use, diabetes and DNA methylation.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 25, 2026
Cross-sectional NHANES 1999–2002 supplement and diabetes data
The study was a cross-sectional analysis of adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002 who had data on dietary supplement use, diabetes and DNA methylation. Diabetes status was defined by self-reported diagnosis, use of glucose-lowering medication, fasting glucose or hemoglobin A1c. Use of particular supplements during the previous 30 days was analyzed as use versus non-use. Twelve epigenetic aging biomarkers derived from DNA methylation were evaluated. Because the design is cross-sectional, it captures associations at one time point and cannot establish timing or cause.
Supporting source [1]
Lycopene link to lower diabetes prevalence among 2381 adults
Among 2381 participants, lycopene was the only supplement that remained associated with lower diabetes prevalence after full covariate adjustment and false discovery rate correction (odds ratio 0.092; 95% confidence interval 0.033–0.256; adjusted P value 0.003). Calcium, iodine and molybdenum showed inverse associations before false discovery rate correction, but these were no longer significant after correction. Epigenetic aging biomarkers explained only a small proportion of the lycopene–diabetes association, with the largest mediation signals for GrimAgeMort, DunedinPoAm and HorvathTelo. Corrected indirect effects were also seen for calcium, iodine and molybdenum, particularly through GrimAgeMort, but these findings were described as exploratory.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and need for longitudinal confirmation
The authors concluded that the most robust supplement-related finding concerned lycopene use and called for longitudinal studies with detailed exposure assessment and repeated DNA methylation measurements. This explainer is based only on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports a cross-sectional design, so the observed associations do not show that lycopene use lowers diabetes risk, and the mediation results are exploratory. Subgroup analyses across demographic, lifestyle and clinical strata were mentioned, but their results are not given in the abstract.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The design is cross-sectional, so associations cannot establish cause or timing. Mediation findings are exploratory, and subgroup results are not reported in the abstract.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Wang J, Lv C, Pei B, Shi Y, Yu Y, Jia Y, Su Y, Zhang Y, Wang W, Shen X, Li S, Zhu W, Wang L, Wang C, Fan L, Li X, Feng K, Wang F. · europepmc.org · August 25, 2026