Reducing calorie intake by 12 percent has been identified as a potential pathway to extend life by enhancing energy levels and revitalizing muscles. Engaging in a calorie restriction diet, which involves limiting caloric intake while ensuring adequate vitamin and mineral levels, not only fosters these benefits but also contributes to a reduction in inflammation and an elevation in metabolism, as revealed by a recent extensive study.
Historically, calorie restriction has demonstrated its efficacy in postponing the onset of age-related diseases in various animal models. The National Institute on Aging (NIH) has now published a groundbreaking study, shedding light on the possibility that the same underlying biological mechanisms could be applicable to humans.
This novel research indicates that a calorie restriction diet may trigger the activation of genes associated with healthy aging. By delving into data from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy(CALERIE) study, a two-year investigation supported by the NIA, scientists discovered that achieving a 12% reduction in caloric intake was sufficient to engage the majority of crucial biological pathways pivotal for promoting healthy aging. In essence, this suggests that adopting a calorie restriction approach may pave the way for not only a longer lifespan but also a qualitatively healthier one.
“A 12% reduction in calorie intake is doable and may make a big difference in your health,” said Luigi Ferrucci, M.D., Ph.D., a corresponding author as well as a NIA Scientific Director.
The primary objective of the research team was to delve into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the observed advantages in prior limited investigations of calorie restriction in humans. A particular study in focus demonstrated that individuals subjected to calorie restriction experienced a reduction in both muscle mass and an average weight loss of 20 pounds during the initial year, with weight maintenance in the subsequent year.
Remarkably, despite the decrease in muscle mass, participants undergoing calorie restriction did not exhibit a corresponding decline in muscle strength. This intriguing finding suggests that calorie restriction positively influenced the efficiency of force generation by each unit of muscle mass, a metric referred to as muscle-specific force. In essence, this implies that the benefits of calorie restriction extend beyond mere weight loss and involve a nuanced enhancement of muscle function, challenging conventional expectations associated with reduced calorie intake.
In the present study, the researchers conducted an examination utilizing thigh muscle biopsies obtained from participants enrolled in CALERIE—a randomized controlled group comprising young and middle-aged, non-obese, and healthy individuals. The follow-up assessments were conducted at one-year and two-year intervals.
The findings of the study corroborated that calorie restriction induced similar effects on gene pathways in humans as observed in mice and nonhuman primates. Specifically, a reduced caloric intake resulted in the upregulation of genes associated with energy generation and metabolism, while concurrently downregulating inflammatory genes, thereby mitigating inflammatory responses. This underscores the conserved nature of these molecular responses across species and provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of calorie restriction on gene expression and metabolic health in diverse organisms.
“Since inflammation and aging are strongly coupled, calorie restriction represents a powerful approach to preventing the pro-inflammatory state that is developed by many older people,” Ferrucci shared.
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