More than 85 years ago, researchers at Cornell University observed that some lab rodents lived longer when fed a lower calorie diet that otherwise had the appropriate nutrients.
Since then, many scientists have studied calorie restriction to shed light on the various biological mechanisms that may explain its benefits.
Perhaps this may help discover a way to extend healthy years of life, known as our healthspan.
In a new study from Yale University, researchers examined the CALERIE data to investigate the effects of calorie restriction on immune function.
They found that calorie restriction may improve immune function and reduce chronic inflammation.
As people age, the size of the thymus, which is part of the immune system, tends to become smaller.
As this organ shrinks, its output of T cells declines, which hampers the ability of the immune system to combat infectious diseases.
This deficiency of T cells is one of the reasons people over age 40 are at increased susceptibility for a range of diseases.
In the current study, the team noted that MRI scans showed the thymus volume increased among people who reduced their calories for the two-year CALERIE study but was not significantly different in the control group.
The increase in thymus size in the group restricting calories was accompanied by an increase in indicators of new T cell production.
The team also analyzed immune system effects in belly fat samples from people in the CALERIE study.
The team discovered that the PLA2G7 gene — which codes for a protein involved in fat metabolism that is made by immune cells such as T cells — was suppressed after calorie restriction, with evidence that the suppression occurred in immune cells present in fat.
Taken together, the findings extend our understanding of the power of calorie restriction and suggest that it might also improve immune function and reduce chronic inflammation in people.
The results also indicate interventions that influence PLA2G7 gene function might have favorable health effects.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about diet that may help reduce erectile dysfunction, and diet that could improve health in people with diabetes.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about which is the best way to reduce diabetes risk, and results showing that Mediterranean diet may lower risk of having another heart attack.
The study was conducted by Vishwa Dixit et al. and published in Science.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
