Flavone intake is non-linearly associated with reduced phenotypic age acceleration, with the greatest reduction observed at moderate to high intake levels, indicating a threshold effect rather than a continuous linear relationship.

When people consume moderate to high amounts of flavones like apigenin and luteolin, these compounds enter the bloodstream and boost levels of a molecule called NAD+, which activates a protein called SIRT1. SIRT1 then turns on repair systems in cells that clean up damaged components, reduce harmful reactive molecules, and calm down inflammation. This keeps cells functioning like younger cells, which lowers the biological age markers measured in blood. At very high intake levels, these systems become fully engaged and no longer improve further, so the benefit stops increasing.