Could a ‘cocktail’ of vegetables, spices and fruit help to slow or even reverse biological ageing in older men in a matter of months?That’s the suggestion from a new study in which men in their 70s took a daily supplement containing concentrated extracts of broccoli, green tea, pomegranates, cranberries, ginger and turmeric.This is roughly equivalent to consuming half a pomegranate, four florets of broccoli, three cups of green tea, a heaped teaspoon of turmeric, ten cranberries and a 2cm cube of fresh ginger each day.The four-month study, published in the Journal of Ageing and Longevity in April, revealed that participants who took the supplement experienced improved grip strength, increased testosterone and lowered levels of inflammation: all key indicators of longevity and good health. Some even reported better sexual function.Half the volunteers also took a probiotic containing five beneficial types of Lactobacillus bacteria (roughly the amount found in 3 tsp of kimchi), and prebiotics (plant fibres which nourish ‘good’ gut bacteria) made from chicory and vitamin D.At the start of the study, each man was tested for grip strength, which is regarded as a good indicator of how robust the body is as it relies on many factors, including muscle mass, nerve signalling, joint health and co-ordination. By the end of the trial, those who took the supplement and the probiotic mix improved their grip strength by 46 per cent (picture posed by model)By the end of the trial, men taking just the plant supplement showed a near 8 per cent improvement in grip strength and a 12 per cent rise in testosterone levels.But those who took the supplement and the probiotic mix improved their grip strength by 46 per cent. This indicated the importance of combining both, said the researchers, who included scientists from the University of California and Edith Cowan University in Australia.Many of the 208 participants also reported improved sexual function and erections – thought to be the result of improved testosterone levels. Previous studies have found that low testosterone is associated with lower muscle mass, increased frailty and raised risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular causes.The plants used in the cocktail are all rich in phytochemicals – natural compounds which reduce inflammation and protect DNA.‘They are also powerful prebiotics, which support the growth of good gut bacteria,’ says study co-author Robert Thomas, a professor of exercise and nutritional science at the University of Bedfordshire. Did you know? The way a baby is delivered can shape the bacteria that colonise their gut. A new review in BMJ Paediatrics Open which analysed previous study results found that babies born by caesarean or exposed to antibiotics at birth had lower levels of beneficial bacteria, compared with those born vaginally. Breastfeeding appeared to help restore a healthier balance. Researchers said more studies are needed to see if these changes have a long-term impact on health. It is thought a healthy gut reduces damaging inflammation, which would cause fatigue, low mood and joint stiffness, and leads to better absorption of key nutrients, including proteins.This, in turn, boosts energy and muscle function (increasing grip strength) and raises testosterone.Professor Thomas told Good Health: ‘It’s known that gut health, testosterone and grip strength all deteriorate with age, while excess inflammation, which damages tissue, increases. But this study shows that this is not inevitable and can be reversed.’He adds that he expects women would reap similar benefits in terms of longevity as the underlying mechanism – especially improving gut health – would be the same.A future study involving women, using the same supplements, will measure menopausal symptoms, inflammation and muscle strength.Previous studies have also suggested that eating a plant-based diet is linked to living a longer, healthier life.A study by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, based on data from more than 500,000 UK adults, found that a diet high in vegetables, fruit, pulses and legumes was linked to key markers of improved longevity, including telomere (the protective caps on chromosomes) length. As we age, these get shorter and cells are more likely to stop dividing, malfunction or die, which contributes to tissue ageing.The new study is the first to show that supplements based on concentrated whole foods might reverse biological ageing. But Gunter Kuhnle, a professor of food and nutritional sciences at Reading University, says that while there’s no doubt that a plant-based diet is important for health, whether such a supplement is the answer to longevity is not clear.‘This study should be treated with caution,’ he says. ‘The relative change [of 46 per cent for grip strength] might sound impressive but the difference between the two groups is small [in real terms]. More broadly, the best way to stay healthy is to eat a balanced diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables, rather than relying on specific supplements or “superfood” combinations.’Gary Frost, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at Imperial College London, adds that although it was a randomised trial, there were differences in terms of age and grip strength between the two groups at the start of the trial. The group that showed the greatest improvement was on average three years younger and had a greater grip strength than the other group at the beginning.‘These differences could explain the different responses,’ adds Professor Frost. ‘It is difficult to take the results as meaningful.’