Whole-grain black rice diet rewires the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of age-related ovarian decline in mice

Ovarian aging poses significant challenges to female fertility and overall health. While whole-grain black rice diet (BRD) has emerged as a promising anti-aging intervention, its translational potential for ovarian health remains underexplored. This study systematically evaluated BRD’s effects on ovarian functional decline through single-cell profiling and phenotypic validation. We demonstrated that BRD intervention effectively delays ovarian aging by preserving the ovarian reserve and maintaining hormonal balance, with granulosa cells (GCs) exhibiting the most pronounced responsiveness. Notably, BRD counteracts age-associated reductions in the GCs population and restores ovarian functional capacity. These findings highlight BRD’s ability to rejuvenate the ovarian cellular landscape and stabilize aging-related transcriptional profiles. Our study provides actionable insights for developing BRD-based nutritional strategies to combat female reproductive aging, paving the way for clinically translatable dietary interventions and functional food innovations targeting the extension of women’s healthspan.