AUTHOR=Esposito Simona , Di Castelnuovo Augusto , Costanzo Simona , Gialluisi Alessandro , Pepe Antonietta , Ruggiero Emilia , De Curtis Amalia , Magnacca Sara , Persichillo Mariarosaria , Casanovas-Garriga Francesc , Cerletti Chiara , Donati Maria Benedetta , de Gaetano Giovanni , Iacoviello Licia , Bonaccio Marialaura 
  
TITLE=Moderate Wine Consumption, Defined by the Mediterranean Diet, Is Associated With Delayed Biological Aging in Men From the Moli-sani Study
  
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 71 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609410
  
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2026.1609410
  
ISSN=1661-8564
  
ABSTRACT=ObjectivesTo investigate the association between wine consumption and biological aging in the Moli-sani Study.MethodsDietary data were assessed using a 188-item FFQ. Participants (n = 22,495) were classified as abstainers, former drinkers, moderate drinkers according to national guidelines (≤250 mL/d men; ≤125 mL/d women) or Mediterranean Diet (MD) (125–500 mL/d men; 62.5–250 mL/d women), and heavy drinkers (>500 mL/d men; >250 mL/d women). Biological age (BA) was estimated with a deep neural network using 36 circulating biomarkers, and Δage (BA–chronological age) served as an index of biological aging.ResultsIn men, wine consumption, at doses defined moderate by a current MD Score, was associated with slower biological aging (Δage β = −0.39; 95%CI: −0.78, −0.01 vs. abstainers). Dose–response analyses showed a J-shaped curve, with the slowest Δage at ∼170 mL/d (Δage = −0.34 years; 95%CI: −0.66, −0.03). Overall ethanol intake, including all alcoholic beverages consumed, was neutral at moderate levels and associated with faster biological aging at higher doses.ConclusionModerate wine consumption, but not overall ethanol intake, may contribute to slower biological aging in men.