Fasting-like diet reduces disease risk factors and reduces biological age in humans: study

Cycles of a diet that mimics fasting may reduce signs of immune system aging, as well as insulin resistance and liver fat in humans, leading to a lower biological age, according to a new study. study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

The study, published in Natural communications on February 20, adds to the body of evidence supporting the beneficial effects of the fasting-mimicking diet (FMD).

The FMD is a five-day diet high in unsaturated fats and low in calories, protein and carbohydrates. It is designed to mimic the effects of a water-only fast while still providing necessary nutrients and making it easier for people to complete the diet. fast. The diet was developed by the laboratory of Professor Valter Longo, a professor at the USC Leonard Davis School, lead author of the new study.

“This is the first study to show that a dietary intervention that does not require chronic changes in diet or other lifestyles can make people biologically younger, based on both changes in risk factors for aging and disease and a validated method developed by the Levine group to assess biological age,” Longo said.

Previous research by Longo has indicated that brief, periodic cycles of FMD are associated with a range of beneficial effects. They can:

Additionally, FMD cycles can reduce risk factors for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other age-related diseases in humans.

The Longo lab had also previously shown that one or two cycles of FMD for five days per month increased the health and lifespan of mice on a normal or Western diet, but the effects of FMD on aging and Biological age, liver fat, and immune system aging in humans were unknown until now.

Reduced disease risks and younger cells

The study analyzed the effects of diet in two clinical trial populations, each consisting of men and women aged 18 to 70. Patients randomized to a fasting-mimicking diet underwent 3 to 4 monthly cycles, adhering to the FMD for 5 days. then I followed a normal diet for 25 days.

The FMD consists of herbal soups, energy bars, energy drinks, chips and tea spread over 5 days as well as a supplement providing high levels of minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids. Patients in the control groups were asked to follow a normal or Mediterranean-type diet.

An analysis of blood samples from trial participants showed that patients in the FMD group had lower diabetes risk factors, including less insulin resistance and lower HbA1c results. Magnetic resonance imaging also revealed a reduction in abdominal fat as well as liver fat, improvements associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome. Additionally, FMD cycles appeared to increase the lymphoid-to-myeloid ratio, an indicator of a younger immune system.

Further statistical analysis of the results of the two clinical studies showed that FMD participants reduced their biological age – a measure of how well their cells and tissues are functioning, as opposed to their chronological age – by an average of 2.5 years. .

“This study shows for the first time evidence of biological age reduction from two different clinical trials, accompanied by evidence of rejuvenation of metabolic and immune functions,” Longo said.

The study, led by first authors Sebastian Brandhorst, USC Leonard Davis research associate professor, and Morgan E. Levine, founding principal investigator of Altos Labs and USC Leonard Davis Ph.D. alumna, provides more support for the potential of FMD as a periodic, short-term dietary intervention that can help people reduce their risk of disease and improve their health without significant lifestyle changes, Longo said .

“Although many doctors already recommend FMD in the United States and Europe, these results should encourage many more healthcare professionals to recommend FMD cycles to patients with higher levels of disease risk factors than desired as well as the general population who may be interested in increased function and younger age,” Longo said.