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Researchers at Penn State's College of Health and Human Development analyzed the complex relationship between diet and aging, focusing on how calorie restriction affects telomeres, the protective structures at the ends of chromosomes that are prone to wear and tear as we age. SciTechDaily writes about it.
The study, published in the journal Aging Cell, analyzed data from a large two-year study on the effects of calorie restriction on the human body. The researchers concluded that although initially participants who reduced their caloric intake lost telomeres faster than those who did not, by the end of the study the situation had reversed.
Telomeres are a kind of biological indicators of time: with each cell division, they shorten until they reach a critical length, which leads to aging of cells and disruption of their functioning. Diet, stress and genetics affect the speed of this process.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, led by Associate Professor Idan Shalev, used this information to find out whether reducing caloric intake can slow down the aging process. They hypothesized that this could reduce the rate of telomere shortening.
The study was based on data from the Calerie trial, the first randomized clinical trial of calorie restriction in humans. At first, telomere length appeared to decrease faster in the calorie-restricted participants, but after the first year the rate slowed.
By the end of the study, there was no significant difference in telomere length between the groups, raising interest in the more complex effects of caloric restriction on telomeres and the aging process.
Despite the mixed results, researchers remain optimistic about the potential benefits of calorie restriction, citing previous findings of positive effects on cholesterol and blood pressure in participants.
Shalev is looking forward to further results of the planned 10-year follow-up of study participants.
Before that, we talked about a product that will increase hemoglobin and add energy.
