The latest volume of Interdisciplinary Topics in Gerontology contains a brace of papers on calorie restriction - or dietary restriction (DR) as folk in that field call it - and its beneficial effects on metabolism. Some of the more interesting ones:

The Role of Hormesis in Life Extension by Dietary Restriction:

The level of food restriction that results in life extension and retarded aging in rodents also enhances their ability to cope with intense stressors. Moreover, this level of dietary restriction (DR) leads to a modest increase in the daily peak concentration of plasma free corticosterone, which strongly points to DR as a low-intensity stressor. These findings suggest that hormesis plays a role in the life-extending and anti-aging actions of DR.

Secrets of the lac Operon:

Elevated blood glucose associated with diabetes produces progressive and apparently irreversible damage to many cell types. Conversely, reduction of glucose extends life span in yeast, and dietary restriction reduces blood glucose. Therefore it has been hypothesized that cumulative toxic effects of glucose drive at least some aspects of the aging process and, conversely, that protective effects of dietary restriction are mediated by a reduction in exposure to glucose.

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Dietary Restriction in Slowing Aging Processes:

Underlying the beneficial effects of DR is the attenuation of system-wide inflammatory processes including those occurring within the central nervous system. During normal aging a progressive neuroinflammatory state builds in the brain involving astrocytes and microglia, the primary cellular components of neuroinflammation. DR attenuates the age-related activation of astrocytes and microglia with concomitant beneficial effects on neurodegeneration and cognition.

Dietary Restriction in Aging Nonhuman Primates:

Using rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), an extensive array of physiological measures have been conducted in both males and females to evaluate the effects of DR. Monkeys benefit from DR with a lower body weight, body fat, blood glucose and thus are at lower risk for developing diabetes.

While metabolic science is an inefficient way forward insofar as healthy life extension is concerned, it is fascinating to watch scientists apply the new tools and knowledge of biotechnology to understanding the way in which we work. Calorie restriction in particular is an interesting field; many major metabolic mechanisms are altered very beneficially simply by eating less while still obtaining suitable levels of nutrients. There may be quite a number of separate processes that contribute to the overall benefit of practicing calorie restriction as a lifestyle.

It won't get us to radical life extension, but if you want to increase your chances of living into an era of working anti-aging medicine capable of repairing the molecular damage that makes you old, then calorie restriction looks to be a smart choice today.

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