Switching to a low-calorie diet won't make you live longer, experts say
A rodent experiment: lifespan remained the same even after diet changes — fat tissue has a "food memory" that offsets the effect of calorie restriction.
A rodent experiment: lifespan remained the same even after diet changes — fat tissue has a "food memory" that offsets the effect of calorie restriction.
Earlier studies had shown that reducing calorie intake could extend lifespan. However, recent research suggests there is no real benefit. An experiment was carried out in which one group of rodents was placed on a restricted diet while the second served as a control group (with a normal diet). The first group's intake was 60% of that of the second group.
Researchers maintained this feeding regimen from the rodents' birth. But once the animals reached two years of age, part of them stayed on their original diet — restricted or control — while another part had their feeding regimens swapped.
Some rodents that had previously eaten without restriction were gradually limited — and vice versa: some of the animals on the restricted diet were no longer constrained. As a result, the lifespan of both groups was identical if the animal was initially fed freely. According to the scientists, fat tissue has a "food memory" that neutralizes any positive effect from calorie restriction.
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