Scientists may have found a shortcut to calorie restriction’s anti-aging benefits
Researchers have identified that the immune protein C3 may be the mechanism through which moderate calorie restriction provides anti-aging benefits in humans. This discovery suggests that aging is a malleable process that could potentially be targeted therapeutically without the negative side effects of severe dieting.
Why it matters
Understanding the biological pathways of aging could lead to medical interventions that extend human healthspan.
Reducing calorie intake has extended lifespan in animals including mice, rhesus monkeys, and fruit flies. In some studies, the animals also remained healthier for longer. But severe calorie restriction can come with serious costs. Mice placed on a diet with 40% fewer calories, for instance, become more vulnerable to infections, reproduce less successfully, and show impaired growth.
That has left scientists with a difficult question: Could humans gain some of the longevity benefits of calorie restriction without experiencing those harmful effects? A new study, published in Nature Aging , points to a possible answer involving an immune protein called complement component 3 (C3).
Yale researchers have previously shown that people who followed moderate calorie restriction, cutting calorie intake by 14% for two years, developed stronger immune defenses without experiencing problems related to growth or reproduction.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in