Genetics, longevity” title=”Genetics, longevity” data-image=”6e4bsmnh15do”/>A healthy, low-calorie diet contributes to longevity. But that’s not all. Genetics also seem to play an important role. 
Tiago Robles Meteored Brazil October 20, 2024 – 8:00 a.m. 4 min
An extensive study on laboratory rats found that Lower calorie intake can contribute to longevity. This reduction leads to longer life, an effect often attributed to weight loss and metabolic changes caused by lower calorie intake. However, simple weight loss and improved metabolism are not enough to explain this phenomenon (longevity)..
The researchers point out that other factors such as Immune system health, genetics and certain physiological markers of resilience for a longer life expectancy seem to be crucial. The study was recently published in the journal Nature published.
What else contributes to longevity?
This study represents the conventional wisdom in Ask that a restricted diet increases our life expectancy.
The research team used 960 mice: Some were fed a low-calorie diet, others were subjected to an intermittent fasting program or were allowed to eat freely. This allowed them to monitor the health and longevity of the animals. It is worth noting that the animals are genetically different and come from a diverse population that reflects human genetic variability.
According to the study, genetics may have a greater impact on longevity than dietary restrictions.
Researchers have found that these diets actually lead to weight loss and associated metabolic changes. However seem other factors like that Immune system health, genetics and physiological indicators of resilience to better explain the connection between calorie restriction and increased life expectancy.
Gary Churchill, vom Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, and co-author of the study, commented: “Metabolic changes are important. But they don’t increase life expectancy.”
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Die 40 percent calorie reduction led to a greater increase in life expectancybut also intermittent fasting and less strict calorie restriction increased average life expectancy.
The animals in the diet group also showed favorable metabolic changessuch as B. a reduction in body fat and blood sugar levels.
Fat cells (artificially colored). Restrictive diets lead to fat loss and extend life, but the two effects are not necessarily related. Photo credit: Steve Gschmeissner/SPL.
However, to the researchers’ surprise, the effects of calorie restriction on metabolism and longevity didn’t always change at the same time. Mice Those who lost more weight on the low-calorie diet tended to die younger as those who lost relatively little weight.
The results therefore suggest that the Key factors for increasing longevity are properties related to immune system health and red blood cell function. But the resistance to the stress of reduced food intake, encoded in the animals’ genes, was also crucial.
Ultimately underlined this Study the importance of genetics in longevity and highlights the need for further research into the effects of intermittent fasting and calorie restriction in humans.
Source note:
Francesco, AD et al. Dietary restriction impacts health and lifespan of genetically diverse mice. Nature2024.
