Bioactive Compounds for Musculoskeletal Aging: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Epigenetic Aging Biomarkers

Age-related loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia), declining bone quality (osteoporosis), and joint degeneration (osteoarthritis) are major drivers of frailty, falls, disability, and reduced quality of life. A converging theme across these conditions is the chronic interplay between oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation (“inflammaging”), which disrupts mitochondrial function, impairs proteostasis, and alters muscle–bone–immune crosstalk. In parallel, epigenetic aging biomarkers—especially DNA methylation–based “clocks” and inflammation-linked methylation signatures—are increasingly used to quantify biological aging and to track responses to lifestyle and nutritional interventions.Recent nutrition research has accelerated toward mechanistic yet translational work on food-derived bioactives (e.g., polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins, bioactive peptides, and microbiome-derived metabolites) that may modulate redox balance, inflammatory signaling, and epigenetic regulation. This Research Topic aims to bring together human studies, well-validated multi-omics, and intervention trials that clarify which compounds, doses, food matrices, and responder profiles meaningfully support musculoskeletal healthspan—and whether changes can be captured by epigenetic aging biomarkers.Key themes of interest include:• Nutritional modulation of Nrf2/NF-κB, mitochondrial quality control, mitophagy, and redox homeostasis in muscle and bone• Bioactives targeting inflammaging, senescence-associated signaling, and immune–muscle–bone interactions• Use of epigenetic clocks and methylation-derived inflammation biomarkers as outcomes in nutrition/exercise interventions• Gut microbiome contributions (metabotypes, urolithins, SCFAs) shaping bioactive availability and musculoskeletal aging trajectories• Precision nutrition approaches: nutrigenomics, dietary patterns, sustainable bioactive sources, and validated multi-omics endpoints in diverse older populationsVarun Dwaraka is an employee of TruDiagnostic, serves as a Scientific Advisor for SRW Laboratories and Big Bold Health, and is the Director of Epigenomics for the American Board of Precision Medicine. Topic editors: Varun Dwaraka, Elvy Suhana Mohd Ramli Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79553/bioactive-compounds-for-musculoskeletal-aging-oxidative-stress-inflammation-and-epigenetic-aging-biomarkers