Oxidative Stress, Cellular Aging, and Dietary Antioxidant Interventions

Oxidative stress, driven by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defense capacity, is a central mechanism underlying cellular senescence and age-related decline. Chronic low-grade oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA accelerates telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory signaling (“inflammaging”), contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, sarcopenia, and metabolic disorders. Diet is one of the most modifiable determinants of the body’s redox status, and interest in dietary antioxidants — polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins C and E, selenium, and bioactive compounds from fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods — has intensified in recent years as researchers seek accessible, non-pharmacological strategies to support healthy aging. Emerging work on the gut microbiome’s role in modulating polyphenol metabolism and antioxidant capacity, alongside renewed scrutiny of the “antioxidant paradox” (where isolated supplementation fails to replicate the benefits of whole-food dietary patterns), has generated active debate and growing publication output between 2023 and 2025.This Research Topic aims to advance mechanistic and translational understanding of how dietary antioxidant strategies influence oxidative stress pathways and cellular aging processes, bridging molecular nutrition science with practical dietary interventions for healthy longevity.We welcome original research, clinical trials, and contemporary reviews addressing:• Molecular mechanisms linking oxidative stress to cellular senescence and aging phenotypes• Dietary patterns, whole foods, and bioactive compounds modulating redox homeostasis• Gut microbiota interactions with dietary antioxidants and downstream metabolite effects• Clinical and epidemiological evidence for antioxidant interventions in age-related disease prevention• Novel biomarkers for assessing oxidative stress and antioxidant status in nutrition research•Submissions integrating nutrigenomics, metabolomics, or microbiome approaches are particularly encouraged, as are studies addressing sustainable, food-based antioxidant strategies relevant to public health and healthy aging populations. Topic editors: Sankar Devarajan, Shengyu Mu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83791/oxidative-stress-cellular-aging-and-dietary-antioxidant-interventions