Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their collaborators have discovered that reducing calorie intake, known as calorie restriction, can bloost muscles and activate important biological pathways for improved health.
Calorie restriction, which involves consuming fewer calories without depriving the body of essential nutrients, has previously been shown to delay age-related diseases in animal models.
This new study, published in the journal Aging Cell, suggests that similar biological mechanisms may apply to humans.
Understanding Calorie Restriction
Calorie restriction involves consuming fewer calories than usual while ensuring the body receives necessary vitamins and minerals.
It has been a known practice to delay the progression of age-related diseases in animals. The researchers aimed to investigate whether similar health benefits could be observed in humans.
The study analyzed data from participants in the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) study, supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
CALERIE aimed to determine whether moderate calorie restriction could convey health benefits similar to those observed in animal studies.
Participants were encouraged to reduce their daily caloric intake by 25%, although the highest reduction achieved was 12%.
Despite this modest calorie reduction, it was sufficient to activate several important biological pathways associated with healthy aging.
Small Changes, Significant Impact
“A 12% reduction in calorie intake is very modest,” emphasized corresponding author Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, NIA Scientific Director. He highlighted that such a small reduction in calorie intake is achievable and can significantly impact health.
One of the intriguing findings was that individuals on calorie restriction lost muscle mass but did not lose muscle strength. Instead, calorie restriction improved the force generated by each unit of muscle mass, known as muscle specific force.
To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the benefits of calorie restriction, the researchers analyzed thigh muscle biopsies from CALERIE participants.
They collected samples when participants joined the study and at one-year and two-year follow-ups.
The scientists isolated messenger RNA (mRNA) from the muscle samples, which contains the code for proteins. By examining the mRNA, they identified which genes were impacted by calorie restriction.
Upregulated and Downregulated Genes
The analysis revealed that calorie restriction affected specific gene pathways in humans, similar to what has been observed in mice and non-human primates.
Calorie restriction upregulated genes responsible for energy generation and metabolism while downregulating genes associated with inflammation, resulting in reduced inflammation levels.
Dr. Ferrucci noted the strong connection between inflammation and aging. Calorie restriction appears to be a potent approach to prevent the pro-inflammatory state that often develops as individuals age.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that even a modest reduction in calorie intake can activate essential biological pathways associated with healthy aging.
Calorie restriction, when practiced with care, may offer a practical way to promote health and potentially delay age-related diseases in humans.
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The research findings can be found in Aging Cell.
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