Scientists from the Jackson Laboratory in New Jersey, USA, found that to increase life expectancy, one should limit calorie intake while avoiding long-term hunger. The results of the research were published in the journal Nature.
To determine which type of diet is most effective in extending life, scientists conducted an experiment on five groups of mice. The researchers noted that they avoided using closely related laboratory animals to enhance the accuracy of the results. The first group received an unlimited amount of food, the second group had its caloric intake reduced by 40%, and the third group had its intake reduced by 20%. The fourth and fifth groups were fed once and twice a week, respectively.
It was found that mice consuming 60% of normal calories lived an average of 34 months longer than the others. In human terms, this equates to about 85 years. Rodents on a 20% calorie-reduced diet lived an average of 30 months longer (about 80 human years).
Animals that ate once or twice a week had a shorter lifespan, living only 28 months (about 70 human years). Without dietary restrictions, the rodents lived the shortest, averaging 25 months, which is equivalent to approximately 65 years for humans.
According to scientists, the high life expectancy was not due to starvation, but to a moderate reduction in caloric intake. This observation applied to all mice, regardless of their weight at death.
The researchers added that prolonged fasting weakened the mice’s immune and reproductive systems, as well as reduced their energy levels. Such changes do not contribute to longevity.
The study authors noted that the mouse body is not exactly like the human body, so the findings should be interpreted with caution. However, the results have important implications for future research into extending human lifespan, which typically examines metabolism as an indicator of biological age.
