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Health Promotion Perspectives. 15(1):23-36. doi: 10.34172/hpp.025.42914

Systematic Review

Serum phospholipids during aging: A comprehensive systematic review of cross-sectional and case-control studies

Meysam Zarezadeh Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, 1 ORCID logo
Mahsa Mahmoudinezhad Data curation, Writing – original draft, 1
Amir Hossein Faghfouri Data curation, Writing – original draft, 2
Nima Radkhah Data curation, Writing – original draft, 1
Mehrdad Jamali Data curation, Writing – original draft, 1
Parsa Jamilian Data curation, Writing – original draft, 3
Zohreh Ghoreyshi Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review & editing, 1
Alireza Ostadrahimi Conceptualization, Investigation, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review & editing, 1, * ORCID logo

Author information:
1Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2Maternal and Childhood Obesity Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
3School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK

*Corresponding Author: Alireza Ostadrahimi, Email: ostadrahimi@tbzmed.ac.ir

Abstract

Background:

The lipidome, as a subset of metabolomics, can undergo significant variations due to several factors, including the aging process. Therefore, this study aims to summarize the relationship between aging and alterations in plasma phospholipids.

Methods:

A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to September 2023. The PRISMA guidelines were adhered to throughout all stages of the review process. Cross-sectional and case-control studies that investigated the relationship between aging and phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), sphingomyelins (SM), ceramides, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were included.

Results:

A total of 8486 studies were identified, of which 32 met the predefined inclusion criteria. The systematic review included data from 70,499 participants. The findings revealed that four studies reported a positive association between PCs and aging in both sexes, while one study reported an inverse relationship. Additionally, two studies found that PCs were positively associated with aging in men and negatively associated in women. Furthermore, four studies indicated a negative association between PC metabolites and the aging process. With regard to LPCs, two studies demonstrated a positive correlation, and two studies showed an inverse correlation with aging in both sexes. For SMs, five studies reported a positive association, whereas two studies identified an inverse association with aging trends. Similarly, five studies reported a positive correlation between PE levels and aging, while two studies showed a negative correlation.

Conclusion:

Phospholipids play a critical role in the aging process, aging-related diseases, and the regulation of lifespan. A reduction in the levels of PCs and LPCs has been identified as a characteristic feature of aging.

Keywords: Aging, Lipidomics, Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylethanolamine, Phosphatidylinositol, Phospholipids

Copyright and License Information

© 2025 The Author(s).
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Funding Statement

This study did not receive any funding in any form.

Introduction

The increase in life expectancy and the growing proportion of aging populations significantly strain healthcare systems in developed countries. Aging impacts all bodily systems and biological processes, from the genetic level to entire organs, resulting in functional changes. It is also a significant risk factor for various conditions, including cancer, ischemic heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), osteoarthritis, and diabetes.1-4 Comprehending the biology of aging is essential for developing long-term strategies to improve the health and well-being of the elderly.

In recent years, significant interest has focused on the link between metabolomics and aging.5 Lipidomics, a subset of metabolomics, focuses on identifying and quantifying human lipids, including a vast array of metabolites.6 Lipids serve as both structural and signaling molecules and are associated with age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD),7 metabolic syndrome,8 macular degeneration,9 Alzheimer disease,10 and at least some types of stroke.11 It has been demonstrated that plasma lipidome composition varies significantly with age.12,13 For instance, while some phosphoglycerides increase with age, others decrease.14,15 Similarly, it has been demonstrated that sphingomyelin (SM) levels vary with age and sex based on the SM species.13,16

It is well known that circulating ceramides are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity.17-19 Moreover, circulating ceramides are associated with an increased risk of death from CVD.20,21 Long-chain (dihydro) ceramides are positively associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVD. In contrast, very long-chain ceramides and more complex sphingolipids, such as lactosylceramides, have demonstrated negative associations.22,23 Moreover, sphingolipid synthesis enzymes are potential for CVD risk reduction targets,24 and inhibition of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis has been shown to reduce atherosclerosis in mice.25 Previous research has indicated that men have higher circulating ceramide levels than premenopausal women.26 However, postmenopausal women experience a more rapid increase in ceramide levels compared to men.27 It has been demonstrated that during healthy aging, SM levels rise in women but fall in men.16 Pathological conditions may affect the concentrations of specific lipid metabolites. For example, AD is associated with disruptions in the normal pattern of change in SM levels with aging.16,28 Similarly, an increase in acylcarnitine levels is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.29

These examples suggest that the role of plasma phospholipids in the aging process and age-related diseases has been increasingly studied and lipidomics research could provide important insights into the pathogenesis of age-related chronic diseases. However, findings are inconsistent, particularly regarding the impact of different phospholipid classes (e.g., phosphatidylcholines [PCs], lysophosphatidylcholines [LPCs], sphingomyelins [SMs], and ceramides) across sexes, body mass index (BMI) categories, and tissues. Additionally, previous studies often lack a comprehensive comparison of phospholipid levels in aging populations stratified by gender and health conditions. This systematic review aims to address these gaps by clarifying inconsistencies in the reported associations between specific phospholipids and the aging process, investigating sex-specific differences in the plasma phospholipid profile associated with aging, and identifying metabolomic biomarkers of healthy versus pathological aging for potential clinical applications.


Methods

This systematic review examined the relationship between plasma phospholipids and SMs and aging in healthy men and women aged 60 years and older. The study was conducted in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.30

Search strategy

A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for relevant articles up to September 2023, using appropriate keywords and MeSH terms. The detailed search strategy is provided in Supplementary file 1.

Additionally, a manual search was performed through the reference and citation lists of the included studies and related review articles to identify relevant original research. All identified articles were imported into and managed using EndNote (version 8.1).

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Initially, two trained reviewers (MZ, MM) independently screened the articles based on their titles and abstracts. After excluding irrelevant studies, the remaining articles underwent a detailed full-text review to determine eligibility based on predefined criteria. Disagreements between reviewers were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer (MZ).

The PECO framework for this study was defined as follows: participants included adults, the exposure was aging, comparisons involved control groups if applicable, and the outcome was changes in phospholipid levels. Cross-sectional and case-control studies were included if they investigated the relationship between aging and plasma SMs, PC, LPCs, and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The search was limited to English-language studies, and studies involving participants younger than 60 years of age, animal studies, conference abstracts, and review articles were excluded.

Quality assessment

The quality of the included studies was evaluated independently by two reviewers using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).31 The NOS comprises three main sections: Selection, Comparability, and Outcome. Studies with NOS scores below five, between five and seven, and above seven were classified as having low, moderate, and high methodological quality, respectively.

Data extraction

Two reviewers independently extracted data from all studies that met the inclusion criteria. The extracted information included the first author’s name, publication year, study location, target population, sex, participants’ age and BMI, number of participants, and serum lipid levels. The association between metabolites and aging was analyzed for both men and women. The third author verified the accuracy of the extracted data, and any disagreements between reviewers were resolved through consensus.


Results

Study selection

As illustrated in the flowchart of the literature search and study selection process (Figure 1), the systematic search identified 8486 studies, of which 1404 were duplicates. The titles and abstracts of the remaining 7082 studies were screened, leading to the exclusion of 6872 studies. The full texts of the remaining 210 studies were then assessed for eligibility. Among these, 178 studies were excluded for the following reasons: eight were cohort studies, 27 focused on fatty acids rather than phospholipids, and 143 did not report data related to phospholipids in the context of aging. Ultimately, 31 studies met the specific inclusion criteria. Notably, the study by Zierer et al.32 summarized findings from two cohort studies, which were reported separately, and both datasets were included in the final analysis.

hpp-15-23-g001
Figure 1.

PRISMA flowchart of the study showing the study selection process


Study characteristics

The characteristics of the eligible studies included in the analysis are presented in Table 1. Of the total studies, 26 were cross-sectional studies,14,28,33-56 while 5 were case-control studies.57-61 The present systematic review included 70,499 participants, with sample sizes ranging from 12 to 26,065. Twenty-eight studies included both sexes, while four studies focused exclusively on women and three exclusively on men. The mean age of participants across the included studies ranged from 20 to 90 years, and the mean BMI ranged from 20 to 28 kg/m2. The studies were published between 2013 and 2022. Most of the study populations were recruited from European countries, including four in the UK,32,42,56,59 three in Italy,41,50,61 and Netherlands,42,62 two in Germany,35,42,53 one in Spain,51 France,52 Finland,14 Switzerland,36 and eight in the US,33,34,38,39,43,46,55,57 five in Australia,40,47,49,63,28 two in Korea,54,58 and Japan,45,48 and one in Canada.56 The Target population of most included studies were healthy individuals and just five studies were carried out among Alzheimer’s patients42,47,51,59 and one among patients with diabetes and obesity.40 Three studies have reported changes in phospholipids in relation to telomere length.32,33,42 Four studies evaluated phospholipids in the brain tissue47,49,51 and the others evaluated in the blood of participants after an overnight fasting.


Table 1. Characteristics of included cohorts and reported changes in serum metabolites with aging
First Author/year Location Study design Population Sample size Age range Main Phospholipid Focus Key findings Measurement Method
Subedi, 202233 USA Cross-sectional Patients with CVDs 1843 35-74 fatty acyls and sphingolipids, with specific mentions of palmitic acid and certain SMs 174 lipids were significantly linked with low telomere length, indicating a connection between altered lipid metabolism and biological ageing, independent of age, sex, and BMI. LC-MS
Slade,
202134
USA Cross-sectional Participants taking lipid-lowering medications 980 48.3 Associations examined across 413 lipid species Include classes like glycerolipids, GLPs, sphingolipids, sterol lipids, fatty acids, and acylcarnitines—specific focus on PCs, SMs Significant age-associated increases in several lipid species, particularly PC and SM, demonstrate a direct relationship with ageing. Notable sex differences in lipid levels, with distinct profiles between males and females. Age and sex interactions were observed, suggesting differential lipidomic ageing profiles between genders LC-MS
Carrard,
202136
Switzerland Cross-sectional Clinically healthy individuals 150 Young female (25.1)
Young male (25.1)
Aged female (74.0)
Aged male (73.9)
Emphasis on sphingolipids and GLPs, with notable changes in specific lipid species like ether-glycerophospholipids and lyso-glycerophosphocholine species in aged females Significant increases in 138 and 107 lipid species for aged females and males respectively, including sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids.
Certain lipid species, known to be cardiometabolic-ally favorable, were elevated in aged individuals
Liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry
Petrocelli,
202038
USA Cross sectional Healthy population 35 participants (12 young adults, 23 older adults) Young (23.4)
Older (67.8)
Ceramides Increasing in specific ceramide ratios such as C16:0/C24:0, C18:0/C24:0, and C24:1/C24:0 predominantly in older adults after periods of bed rest HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry
Cherrier, 202039 USA Cross sectional Subjects drinking alcohol 183 Middle age: (35-59)
Older adults: > 60
Phosphatidylethanolamine types Consumption of higher amounts of alcohol in the middle-aged versus more days in the elderly.
Increasing the concentration of both types of phosphatidyl ethanol in both middle-aged and old groups. Consumption of higher amounts of alcohol in the middle-aged versus more days in the elderly.
LC/MS
Beyene, 202040 Australia Cross-sectional AusDiab,
BHS
10339 25-95 PCs, PEs, PIs and SMs Significant associations between age, sex, and BMI with various lipid species were identified. Specific lipid classes, such as ether-phospholipids and lysophospholipids, showed inverse associations with age in men only. Women displayed different lipidomic profiles, particularly after menopause, with changes in triacylglycerol and lysoalkyl-phosphatidylcholine species. HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry
Wang, 201956 Canada Cross-sectional Healthy subject 236 20 to 82 PCs, LPCs, SMs, and ceramides The study revealed significant associations of ageing with specific phospholipids, notably sphingolipids and PCs, which varied less than 50% between sexes. Phospholipids associated with HDL particles increased, suggesting enhanced lipid transport functions that could improve cardiovascular health in older adults. ESI-MS
Vozella, 201941 Italy Cross-sectional post-menopausal women 100 47-78 The focus was on various ceramide molecules identified by their acyl chain lengths, such as Cer(d18:1/16:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1) The study found elevated levels of certain types of ceramides in post-menopausal women, which were associated with aging and hormonal changes
Specific phospholipids measured include ceramides such as Cer(d18:1/16:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1), which were significantly higher in older age groups.
HPLC tandem mass spectrometry
van der Spek,
201942
Germany, Netherland, UK, Estonia Cross-sectional healthy adult populations 7853 Young (24–40 y)
Older (75–90 y)
LPCs, PCs, and PEs Phospholipids like LPC acyl C17:0, PC diacyl C32:1, and PC acyl-alkyl C38:4 were significantly associated with LTL. Higher levels of LPC a C17:0 and PC ae C38:4 were linked with longer LTL, indicating a protective role against biological ageing. Mass spectrometry
Khayrullin,
201943
USA Cross- sectional Healthy individuals 150 Young (24–40 y)
Older (75–90 y)
SMs and PCs during ageing certain SMs decreased, while some PCs increased. LC-MS
Wong, 201928 Australia Cross- sectional Healthy individuals 100 56–100 y PCs, LPCs, SMs, PEs Significant decline in various lipid species with age, with marked reductions in the oldest subjects suggesting a unique lipidomic profile associated with longevity.
Notable differences in lipid profiles between males and females, with higher levels of certain lipid species in females
LC-MS
Wang, 201844 UK Cross-sectional and longitudinal study Midlife women 3312 50 Circulating metabolic including a variety of lipids and phospholipids Notable changes include increases in very low-density, intermediate-density, and low-density lipoprotein levels, and a decrease in lipoprotein particle size, indicating an increased cardiometabolic risk. High-throughput NMR metabolomics
Kawanishi, 201845 Japan Cross-sectional Adult subjects 20 Women: (Young 23.9)
(Older 70.2)
Men: (Young 23.9) (Older = 71.7)
Ester-linked PCs
Ester-linked PEs
Ether-linked PCs
Ether-linked PEs
Ageing is associated with increased serum levels of multiple triacylglycerol species.
Notable increases in total ester-linked PC and PE.
Decreased serum levels of specific ether-linked PC and PE in elderly compared to the young.
LC-MS
Johnson, 201846 USA Cross-sectional Healthy young and older adults 43 Young (23)
Older (61)
Plasma, ceramides, and acyl carnitines Specific phospholipids, notably ceramides, showed higher concentrations in older adults compared to younger adults. This included different ceramide chains such as C16:0, C18:0, C20:0, C22:0, C24:1, and C24:0, increases in certain ceramides were linked to declines in maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max), an important indicator of cardiovascular and overall physiological health LC-MS
Díaz,
201851
Spain Cross-sectional Alzheimer 25 Women: (Young
42.20)
(Older 71.67)
Men: (Young
42.86)
(Older 73.29)
PIs, SMs, STs, and cerebrosides Significant gender differences were observed in the aging process of lipid rafts, with these changes being more pronounced in women, especially postmenopausal.
Lipid changes included alterations in the levels of phospholipids, sphingolipids, and cholesterol, which are essential for the functionality of lipid rafts
HPTLC
Couttas,
201847
Australia Cross-sectional Alzheimer 80 78.2 ceramides, SMs, and ST and S1P In males, ceramide, SM, and ST levels correlated positively with age. In females, an inverse correlation was observed between age and the S1P ratio, suggesting a decrease in neuroprotective sphingolipid levels with age. LC-MS
Trabado,
201752
French Cross-sectional Healthy individuals 800 37.6 PCs and SMs Elderly subjects had higher levels of SMs and PCs compared to younger subjects, suggesting an increase in these phospholipids with age low injection analysis (FIA) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)
Rist,
201753
Germany Cross-sectional Healthy men and women 301 18–80 PCs and SMs Lack of definitive opinion on the relationship between the concentration of phospholipids and aging.
Focusing on identifying metabolic patterns predictive of age and sex
Mass spectrometry coupled with gas chromatography or liquid chromatography, and NMR spectroscopy
Maekawa,
201748
Japan Cross-sectional healthy Japanese adults 60 young males (25-35 years), elderly males (55-64 years), young females (25-35 years), and elderly females (55-65 years) LPCs, PCs, ether-type PCs, ether-type PEs, and PIs The study found age-associated differences in the levels of several phospholipids, with 111 (34%) and 115 (35%) metabolites showing significant age-related variations in males and females, respectively. LC-MS
Zierer,
201632
UK Cross-sectional women from the TwinsUK cohort 3511 53.6 1-stearoylglycerophosphoinositol and 1-palmitoylglycerophosphoinositol Both 1-stearoylglycerophosphoinositol and 1-palmitoylglycerophosphoinositol were negatively associated with LTL (but non-significant), suggesting an increased phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity and an altered membrane composition linked to biological ageing. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and LC/MS
Norris,
2015 (B)49
Australia Cross-sectional Elderly individuals 36 58.9 PCs, PEs, and PS Phospholipids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) generally increased with age, whereas those containing arachidonic acid (AA) decreased. For example, mitochondrial PS 18:0_22:6 (which is high in DHA) increased significantly in abundance over the adult life span, while mitochondrial PE 18:0_20:4 (which contains AA) decreased. Nano ESI-MS
Montoliu,
201450
Italy Cross-sectional Healthy individuals 294 Elderly: (70.4)
Centenarians:
(100.7)
SMs, LPCs, PCs, and ether-linked PCs Centenarians showed higher levels of certain SMs and ether-linked PCs, which may indicate enhanced antioxidant capacity and improved membrane lipid remodelling associated with healthy ageing.
Specifically, increases in SM 36:2, SM 34:1, and PC-O species were noted, suggesting a protective role in maintaining cell integrity and possibly contributing to longevity
Shotgun MS/MS approach
Ishikawa, 201455 USA Cross-sectional Healthy adults 60 Young:
(M: 18.0–36.6)
(F: 24.9–49.7)
Elderly:
(M: 19.5–34.9)
(26.1–43.3)
LPCs, PCs ether-type PCs, PEs, ether-type PEs, and SMs Age-associated differences in lipid metabolites were observed, particularly notable in females compared to males. In plasma and serum, many triacylglycerols were significantly higher in the elderly than in young females UPLC-TOFMS
Auro, 201414 Finland Cross-sectional Healthy population 26065 24–75 PCs and SMs Significant gender-specific metabolic fingerprints were observed, with menopause associated with changes in lipid profiles, particularly the levels of PCs and SMs NMR
Muilwijk, 202135 Netherlands Cross-sectional Healthy population 700 46 Ceramides, lactosylceramides Higher concentration of sphingolipids in young men compared to women and vice versa at older ages (56-70 years). LC-tMS
Lee,
201454
South Korea Cross-sectional Healthy Korean subjects 110 Young: 34.82
Elderly: 70.42
LPCs There was a notable difference in the levels of specific phospholipids between the age groups. Notably, levels of LPCs were lower in the plasma of older individuals compared to the younger group, which could indicate membrane composition or metabolism alterations with age. UPLC-QTOF-MS
Gonzalez-Covarrubias,
201362
Netherlands Case-control Nonagenarian
siblings of Caucasian descent
Offspring = 1526
Controls = 675
Offspring: 59.4
Control: 25.3
PCs, SMs, PEs In women, 19 lipid species were significantly associated with familial longevity. Female offspring showed higher levels of ether PCs and SM species and lower levels of PEs (38:6). Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry
D’Ascenzo, 202261 Italy Case-control Parkinson’s Disease vs. healthy controls 78 73 PCs, SMs, ceramides, Lys phosphatidyls Increasing concentration of PCs, SMs and ceramides in Parkinson's group compared to healthy people with increasing age and decreasing concentration of Lys phosphatidyls LC-MS
Kim, 201759 UK Case-control Alzheimer’s disease patients and controls 412 Alzheimer 77.35
Control
74.88
specific ceramides and PCs, including Cer16:0, Cer18:0, Cer24:1 for ceramides, and PC36:5, PC38:6 for ceramides were associated with age, showing specific interactions with hippocampal atrophy particularly in younger participants (age < 75).
PC36:5 was associated with AD status in the younger group, while PC38:6 was linked in the older group (age > 75).
UPLC-MS
Kim,
201958
South Korea Case-control Healthy individuals 74 72 Ceramides C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C24:1 Age was positively correlated with plasma levels of C16:0, C18:0, and C24:1 ceramide. Patients with fragility hip fractures had significantly higher levels of C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C24:1 than those without fractures. These ceramides were positively associated with bone resorption markers. C18:0 and C24:1 ceramides were shown to directly increase osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in vitro. LC-tMS
Xyda,
202057
USA Case-control Healthy population 24 participants (12 young adults, 12 older adults) Younger: (27)
Older: (76)
Impact of n3-PUFA on metabolomic profiles including lipoproteins and small metabolites The relationship between phospholipid concentration and ageing showed that specific phospholipids associated with HDL particles increased, suggesting improved lipid transport functions in older adults, potentially aiding in better cardiovascular health outcomes. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and MS techniques

ST, sulfatide; S1P, sphingosine 1-phosphate; HPTLC, High-performance thin-layer chromatography; LC-MS, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; AusDiab, Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study; BHS, Busselton Health Study; CVD, cardiovascular disease; PC, phosphatidylcholine; SM, sphingomyelin; PE, phosphatidylethanolamines; PI, phosphatidylinositol; LPC, lysophosphatidylcholine; PS, phosphatidylserine; UPLC-QTOF-MS, Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry; UPLC-TOFMS, Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry; UPLC-MS, Mass spectrometry coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography

Quality assessment

The NOS was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and the results are presented in Table 2. According to the NOS scoring system, most of the studies were classified as high-quality. The remaining 15 studies were rated as having moderate quality. Additionally, the statistical analyses, assessed as part of the outcome component in the NOS, were thoroughly described in all studies.


Table 2. Quality assessment of included studies using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale
First author, Year Selection Comparability Exposure Total score
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 1 Item 1 Item 2
Subedi, 202233 * * * ** ** ** * 10
D’Ascenzo, 202261 * - - ** - * * 5
Muilwijk, 202135 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Slade, 202133 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Carrard, 202136 * - * ** ** * * 8
Xyda, 202057 * - - ** ** ** * 8
Petrocelli, 202038 * - - ** - ** * 6
Cherrier, 202039 * - - ** - * * 5
Beyene, 202041 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Wang, 201956 * * * ** * ** * 9
Vozella, 201941 * - - ** ** * * 7
van der Spek, 201942 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Kim, 201958 * - - ** ** ** * 8
Khayrullin, 201943 - - * ** * - * 5
Wong, 201928 * * * ** * ** * 9
Wang, 201844 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Kawanishi, 201845 * - - ** - ** * 6
Johnson, 201846 * - * * * * * 6
Díaz, 201851 * * * * * - * 6
Couttas, 201847 * * * * * * * 7
Trabado, 201752 * * * ** * - * 7
Rist, 201753 * * * ** * * * 8
Maekawa, 201748 * * * ** ** * * 9
Kim, 201759 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Zierer, 201632 * * * ** ** ** * 10
Norris, 201549 - * * * * * * 6
Montoliu, 201450 * * * * * * * 7
Ishikawa, 201455 * * * ** ** * * 9
Auro, 201414 * * * ** * * * 8
Lee, 201454 * - * ** - * * 6
Gonzalez-Covarrubias, 201362 * * * ** * * * 8

NOS comprises from three domains: Selection, Comparability, Outcome.

Selection domain includes three items: Representativeness of the sample, Sample size, Non-respondents and Ascertainment of the exposure (risk factor).

Comparability domain includes: The subjects in different outcome groups are comparable, based on the study design or analysis. Confounding factors are controlled item.

Outcome domain includes two items: Assessment of the outcome and Statistical test.

*Means that the study obtained one score from each item.

**Means that the study obtained two score from each item.

Changes in phospholipids during aging

The results of changes in phospholipids are presented in the Table 1 and the direction of aging effects on these phospholipids has been illustrated.

Phosphatidylcholines

A category of lipids impacted by aging was PC. PCs were assessed in seventeen studies, all of which included both male and female participants combined.14,28,33,34,40,42,45,48-52,56,57,59,61,62 Three studies have indicated that PCs are positively associated with aging process in both genders (P < 0.05).34,48,49 In contrast, Wong et al reported significant inverse relationship between PCs and aging trend among both genders.28 While, Kawanishi et al45 have shown that (PC 32:0, PC 34:2, PC 34:3, PC 36:5, PC 38:2, PC 38:5, PC 38:6, PC 40:5, PC 40:6, PC 40:7) were positively associated with aging among men (P < 0.05). However, women showed different results for different PCs and PC 32:1, PC 36:5, PC 38:2, PC 38:5, PC 40:5, PC 40:6, PC 40:7 were inversely associated with aging among healthy elderly women (P < 0.05).45 Similarly, Beyene et al represented results in terms of PCs in association with aging among Australian obese and diabetes patients in a sex-stratified model. PC levels showed a significant positive and negative relationship with age among men and women respectively.40 Whereas, Montoliu et al reported different findings for different PCs in association with the aging process. In such a way that PCs (14:0-18:1), (16:0-18:3), (18:0-22:5) tended to show an upward trend according to aging (P < 0.05) in contrast to PCs (16:0-18:1) and (16:0-18:2) (P < 0.05).50 In contrast, four other studies that have evaluated the behavior of PCs in relation to aging, found no significant relationship between PCs and aging trend.14,51,52,61

The studies of Kim et al57 and Xyda et al57 had a case-control design. Decreased levels of PC were not significantly associated with the aging process among AD patients compared to the control group in the study conducted by Kim et al.59 Xyda et al examined the behavior of PCs in the context of aging and found no significant association between PCs and aging trends similar to others.57

In addition, in some studies, PC metabolites were assessed too. The ether form of PCs [PC (O)] was negatively associated with aging in both genders in two studies40,62 and just among women in one study.45 Similarly, alkenyl phospholipids [PC (P)] were negatively associated with the aging process in both genders in Beyene and colleagues’ study (P < 0.05).40 Furthermore, diacyl PC and acyl-alkyl PC including aaC34:1, aaC32:0, aaC32:2, aaC34:2, aaC36:2, aeC44:4 and aeC42:4 were elevated in Parkinson’s patients vs control group in Ascenzo’s study.61 Ashley et al have investigated the correlation between PCs and leucocyte telomere length among AD patients and found that the PC aa C32:1 and PC ae C38:4 significantly decreased and increased, respectively, during aging in AD patients.42 However, PCs were associated with telomere length in Subedi and colleagues’ study.33

Lysophosphatidylcholines

LPC levels were reported in eleven studies with different results.34,40,42,48,49,51,53-55,57,61 Lee et al54 reported a significant and positive association between LPCs and the aging process among both genders. Also, in Maekawa’s study, the metabolite of LPC followed a similar trend, and LPC metabolite was significantly increased in old women compared to younger ones.48 Also, Ishikawa et al55 reported contradictory results in different LPCs classes. They have reported significantly increased levels of LysoPC 16:1, LysoPC 17:0, LysoPC 18:0 and LysoPC 22:6 in men and significantly decreased levels of LysoPC 16:1, LysoPC 16:0, LysoPC 18:0, and LysoPC 22:6 in elderly women compared to younger women. Moreover, Ashley et al reported a positive association of LPCs with telomere length.42 While other studies have reported a significant decreasing trend for LPCs in both genders in plasma40 and tissue levels.49 While, four other studies which have evaluated the LPCs characteristics in relation to aging, have found no significant relationships in both plasma34,51,53,57 and tissue levels. It should be noted that the study by Xyda et al was a case-control study.57 In addition, PD patients showed lower levels of LPCs in comparison to the control group irrespective of the aging effect too.61

Sphingomyelin and ceramides

The SMs levels were evaluated in nineteen studies.14,28,33,34,36,40,42,45-48,50,51,53,54,56,61,62,52 Three studies have reported that SM levels are positively correlated with the aging trend in both genders (P < 0.05).34,40,62 This relationship was also true for its metabolites. SM’s metabolites were increased in old population compared to younger in both genders (P < 0.05).48 Similarly, Couttas et al have reported this positive association of SMs in men specifically.47 Also, levels of SM (42:4), SM (42:3), SM (42:2), SM (41:2), SM (38:2), SM (36:2), SM (36:1), SM (34:1) and SM (33:1) except SM (50:1) were increased in centenarians compared to elderlies (P < 0.05).50 Whereas, two other studies reported contradictory results indicating an inverse relationship of SM with the aging trend (P < 0.05).54,28 Contrary, seven other studies that have evaluated the behaviors of SMs in relation to aging, found no significant association in this regard.36,42,45,46,51-53 Regardless of aging effects, hydro-SMs were elevated in PD patients vs. the control group.61 In addition, SM (d42:3) and SM (d18:0/24:1) were in positive and negative association with telomere length, respectively.33

Furthermore, fourteen studies reported on ceramides in relation to aging.28,33-36,38,40,41,43,46-48,58,59,33 Eight studies have reported elevated levels of ceramides in aged individuals compared to younger subjects (P < 0.05).38,40,41,43,46-48,58 In contrast, Wong et al demonstrated decreased levels of ceramides in elderly vs young people (P < 0.05).28 It is worth noting that Khayrullin et al evaluated ceramide levels in serum exosome of women and (C16:0), (C18:0 Cer), (C24:1 Cer), (C24:1 Cer) were positively correlated with aging (P < 0.05).43 Also, total ceramide among men was positively correlated with aging (P < 0.05).47 However, Alzheimer’s patients and healthy subjects showed elevated levels of ceramides in Kim et al study.59

Phosphatidylethanolamines

Thirteen published studies conducted among healthy individuals, have studied PE level.28,34,36,39,40,45,46,48-51,62 Five studies demonstrated a significant positive association between PE levels and aging.34,40,48,50,62 In contrast, PE levels were inversely associated with aging in two other studies (P < 0.05).39,28 While, Johnson and Diaz et al. found no changes in term of PEs with respect to the aging process.46,51 Kawanishi et al demonstrated increased levels of PE 36:1, PE 38:6, PE 40:6 in elderly women and PE 36:1, PE 36:2, PE 36:3 in elderly men vs young.45 Similarly, PEs were in a positive relationship with aging except PE (18:1) in Norris and colleagues’ study.49 In addition, alkyl PE (PE-O) the ether form of PEs, showed a positive association in the tissue of Australian elderly people49 and a negative association with aging in Beyene et al and Norris and colleagues’ studies.40,45 Also, LPE levels illustrated an upward trend according to aging in two studies.34,40 Moreover, lysoalkylglycero PE was seen in a positive association with aging.36

Phosphatidylinositol

Another class of lipids that altered due to aging was the PIs. Three studies have reported significantly increasing levels of PI in aged people compared to young ones.34,40,48,50 While it was decreased among the healthy UK population in Zierer’s study.32


Discussion

This study addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding the inconsistent findings on the relationship between plasma phospholipids and aging, particularly in relation to variations in phospholipid classes across sex, BMI categories, and tissue types. While previous research has investigated this association, many studies lack detailed stratification by sex or health conditions, limiting the broader applicability of their conclusions. This review fills that gap by systematically examining cross-sectional and case-control studies to shed light on sex-specific differences in phospholipid profiles and to identify key biomarkers linked to both healthy and pathological aging.

Moreover, this study deepens the understanding of lipid-related mechanisms involved in the aging process and highlights the potential for metabolomic biomarkers to play a role in the prevention and management of age-related diseases. By integrating findings from diverse populations, this review provides a more comprehensive perspective and contributes valuable new insights to the existing literature.

Overall, the findings from the included studies suggest that the relationship between various phospholipids and aging depends on tissue type, sex, BMI, fatty acid saturation, and the specific phospholipid class. However, a systematic review of cohort studies by Mohammadzadeh Honarvar et al concluded that sex is a more significant factor in determining phospholipid levels during aging.64 However, the findings of our study indicate that there is no consistent pattern for determining the relationship between phospholipids and sex, as this relationship can be influenced by the aforementioned factors. PCs are the most abundant type of phospholipid in cells, accounting for approximately 50% of the total phospholipid content. They are primarily found in the endoplasmic reticulum and, to a lesser extent, in the cell membrane.65 Therefore, maintaining adequate levels of PCs is essential for normal cellular function. A reduction in total PC levels is both a biomarker and a contributing factor in the aging process. Kim et al demonstrated that in vivo supplementation with PCs extended lifespan by influencing the nuclear localization of DAF-16, a transcription factor involved in the stress response.66 Overall, observational studies have indicated a significant relationship between PC levels and aging. Maekawa et al identified PC metabolites as the primary age-dependent phospholipids.48 However, it seems that the inconsistency of the results was related to studied PC and examined tissue. While total PCs levels decreased with aging, brain levels increased. Three studies evaluated PCs in the brain tissue, of which two studies showed a significant increase of PCs in brain tissue by aging49 and one failed to report a significant change.51 Among the different types of PC, the unsaturated forms may have distinct effects on the aging process compared to the saturated forms. Some in vivo studies have suggested that a reduction in certain unsaturated PCs may contribute to lifespan extension.67,68 However, the findings of our study suggest that an increase in certain unsaturated PCs may be associated with longevity. Additionally, ether-linked phospholipids have demonstrated antioxidant properties and may help protect myelin from oxidative damage.69 As reported by Beyene et al and Gonzalez-Covarrubias, ether-linked phospholipids were inversely associated with aging.40,62 However, diacyl PCs and acyl-alkyl PCs were elevated in Parkinson’s patients in Ascenzo and colleagues’ study.61

LPCs play a critical role in the cardiolipin biosynthesis pathway, serving as an essential component of mitochondrial membranes. Consequently, LPCs contribute to the regulation of mitochondrial oxidative capacity.70 Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in aging process. As a result, low level of LPCs can predict aging phenotypes such as myocardial infarction71 and cognitive impairment.72 Similar to this hypothesis, Beyene et al have shown that there was a decreasing trend for LPCs in both gender in plasma by aging.40 Moreover, a positive association was found between leukocyte telomere length and LPCs level in AD patients.42 In contrast, Lee et al suggested that higher plasma levels of LPCs can be a possible cause of neuroinflammation and atherosclerosis by aging.54 According to the findings of a review study, due to the extensive interaction of LPCs with immune cells, LPCs cannot be considered simply as pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory agents.73 These conflicting results can be related to the length of the acyl chain, the degree of saturation, as well as the age and health status of the subjects. As a result, similar to PCs, the relationship of LPCs with aging is complex and does not follow a simple fashion.

Ceramide and SM can be interconverted through the actions of SM synthase and sphingomyelinase, respectively.74 Sphingomyelinase can be activated by various stimuli such as oxidative stress and various cytokines.75 Increased oxidative stress, as a natural consequence of the aging process, has been linked to ceramide accumulation. Studies have shown that ceramide levels rise during the early stages of AD but exhibit a global decline in the later stages of the condition.76 However, similar to PCs and LPCs, ceramides with varying acyl chain lengths exhibit different responses to the aging process. Cutler et al reported that very long-chain ceramides tend to accumulate with age.77 Moreover, long-chain ceramide accumulation leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and, subsequently oxidative stress and cell death.78,79 Various observational studies have confirmed the above findings on ceramides.38,40,42,43,46,47,58,59 However, Wong et al. revealed a negative association between ceramides and aging. An evaluation of their findings showed that subjects aged 95 and above experienced a significant reduction in ceramides28; while other studies mainly included middle-aged adults. This contradictory finding may be attributed to the age groups of the studied subjects. Overall, the results indicate that SM levels generally increase with aging; however, some conflicting findings have been reported. The reduction in SM levels observed in Wong and colleagues’ study may be explained by the same age-related factor mentioned earlier.28 Regarding the study by Lee et al,54 the low level of SM could be related to the low BMI of the participants. Also, assessing other conflicting results showed that the response of SM to the aging process can be different between women and men. However, more studies are needed to clarify this issue.

Reduction of PE, as the second abundant phospholipid in organisms, has been suggested a general feature of aging by in-vivo studies.80-82 Park et al reported that supplementation with PE led to anti-oxidant and anti-aging effects through the reduction of insulin/IGF-1-like signaling in C. elegans.83 However, similar to PCs, Beyene et al. and Kawanishi et al. reported that only ether-linked PEs were negatively associated with aging.40,45 Moreover, Norris et al. indicated that PEs containing docosahexaenoic acid 22:6 (DHA) were elevated in brain tissue by aging.49 Considering the involvement of DHA in the growth and function of neurons, this process can be considered as an adaptive and protective mechanism for the aging process in the brain. Another effective factor is age. Montoliu et al. found a positive association between PEs and aging in centenarians compared with elderly subjects.50 The difference between centenarians and younger elders is their ability to balance the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory state.84 With the mentioned findings, it can be found that one of the underlying mechanisms in this issue is the increase in PEs and reduction in ceramides in centenarians.

PI plays a critical role in cell signaling. Through this effect on cell signaling, it has been suggested that PIs possess anti-inflammatory activities by inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC)- mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.85 This can justify higher level of PIs in centenarians compared to elderly subjects and their ability to maintain the balance between anti- and pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.50 In contrast, a positive association was found between PIs and aging in a study by Slade et al. This contradictory result can be related to the use of lipid-lowering drugs in their studied subjects.34 Moreover, BMI of participants can explain other contradictory results.36 It has been suggested that PI derivate, PI(4,5)P2, could enhance lifespan by affecting daf-18 (as a tumor suppressor gene); on the other hand, PI(3,4,5)P3 through affecting insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway had a shortening effect on lifespan.86 Therefore, the function of enzymes involved in the metabolism of PIs can affect the aging process and be considered as future therapeutic targets in aging studies. As reported by Matuoka et al, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity can promote aging phenotypes.87 As a result, the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of PIs seems to be more important than the level of PI metabolites.


Strengths and limitations

The strength of this manuscript lies in its comprehensive systematic review of 32 studies, conducted following PRISMA guidelines. It provides an in-depth examination of the relationship between phospholipids and aging, highlighting key trends while accounting for gender differences and methodological variability. However, the study has several limitations, including a lack of research on the effects of lipid-lowering medications, substantial variability in measurement techniques, population heterogeneity, and an inability to perform a meta-analysis due to high levels of heterogeneity.

Additionally, factors such as circadian rhythms, fasting status, differences in laboratory methods and assay kits, and variations in BMI may have influenced the results. Further research is needed on centenarians and the mechanisms underlying the impact of phospholipids on the aging process. Moreover, the absence of essential data in many of the included studies prevented the performance of a full analysis and the presentation of a meta-analysis.

Clinical recommendations for future studies

Phospholipid monitoring, particularly for PCs and LPCs, could serve as biomarkers for aging-related diseases like cardiovascular and cognitive decline, and should be considered in elderly patients. Given gender and age-based lipid variations, personalized treatments may be needed to manage aging-related conditions more effectively. Further research is required to clarify how specific phospholipids influence aging and related diseases, especially in centenarians and individuals on lipid-lowering medications. Investigating the impact of lipid-lowering drugs on phospholipid levels in aging populations could help tailor therapies for older adults. Future studies should also account for circadian rhythms and fasting times to standardize lipid measurements. Expanding research to include diverse populations, such as centenarians and individuals with varying BMIs, will improve our understanding of how phospholipid profiles change across different demographics.


Conclusion

Phospholipids have crucial roles in the aging process, aging-related diseases, and lifespan regulation. Decreased total levels of PCs, LPCs, and Pes and accumulation of ceramides are the features of aging. However, the examined tissue, gender, BMI, saturation of FA, and type of phospholipid can affect this pattern. Activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of PIs especially PI3K seems to be more important than the level of PI metabolites.


Competing Interests

None.


Data Availability Statement

The data will be made available upon request.


Ethical Approval

Not applicable.


Supplementary Files

Supplementary file 1. The search pattern used for search in PubMed database. (pdf)

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Submitted: 15 Feb 2024
Revised: 04 Nov 2024
Accepted: 21 Nov 2024
First published online: 06 May 2025
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