Aging in mammals is characterized by senescence, a decline in physiological functions resulting from cumulative damage to tissues that overwhelms the body's natural ability to repair them. Eventually, essential organs and systems begin to degenerate, resulting in chronic diseases and break down of normal body functions.

A large disparity in life span exists in living organisms, ranging from 3 hours in the mayfly to an average of 188 years in the Galápagos tortoise. The human life span is somewhere in between, and the longest living human lived for 122 years. Current trends in the health and wellness marketplace are focused towards the needs of a rapidly increasing population of aging baby boomers who seek lifestyle, nutritional and cosmetic interventions to slow down or mask the aging process, and to potentially extend life span. Recent scientific evidence validates the supportive role of dietary interventions in healthy aging and longevity.