Scientists have learned about changes in biological age due to diet

Scientists have found that changing the ratio of fats, carbohydrates and animal protein in the diet can affect the biological age in people aged 65-75 years in just four weeks. The most pronounced changes were observed in participants who followed a regular diet with less fat and more carbohydrates. About how nutrition can affect the markers of aging of the body, see the "Izvestia" material.

How nutrition has changed biological age

The University of Sydney study involved 104 people aged 65 to 75 years. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups, each of which followed a specific diet for four weeks. The work was published in the scientific journal Aging Cell.

In all food options, protein accounted for 14% of the total energy value of the diet. The two groups followed a regular mixed diet, in which half of the protein came from animal products, and the rest from plant-based products. Two more groups followed a semi-vegetarian diet, where 70% of the protein came from plant sources.

Within each category, participants received either a diet with a higher fat content and fewer carbohydrates, or with less fat and more carbohydrates. Thus, the researchers compared four food options. Before and after the four-week period, the researchers assessed the biological age of the participants based on a set of physiological parameters. The results showed that in three of the four groups, the estimated biological age decreased.

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Which diets have shown changes

No significant changes in the estimated biological age were found in the group that followed a mixed diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates. This food option was most similar to the diet that the participants followed before the start of the study.

In the other three groups, biological age indicators decreased. The most convincing statistical results were obtained by the participants who consumed a mixed diet with less fat and more carbohydrates. In this version of the diet, protein accounted for 14% of energy, fats for 28-29%, and carbohydrates for 53%. Thus, the most pronounced result was associated not only with the transition to plant-based foods, but with a change in the ratio of the main components of the diet.

Overall, the results indicate that reducing the amount of fat, animal protein, or both components can affect markers associated with aging, even in a relatively short period of time. At the same time, the researchers emphasize that a decrease in the estimated biological age does not mean that the aging process itself has been completely reversed.

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What scientists call biological age

Chronological age shows how old a person has turned, but the physiological state of the body in people of the same age can vary significantly. Biological age is influenced by the performance of the cardiovascular system, metabolism, inflammatory processes and other health characteristics.

In the new work, the scientists calculated the biological age based on 20 biomarkers. Among them were the levels of cholesterol, insulin and C-reactive protein, an indicator that is used to assess inflammatory processes in the body.

All these indicators were combined into a common calculated indicator of biological age. Therefore, its change reflects primarily a change in the set of physiological markers, rather than a literal "rejuvenation" of the body.

The researchers note that two people with the same chronological age may have different indicators of biological aging. That is why biological age is used to assess differences in the state of the body, which cannot be determined solely by the number of years lived.

Is it really possible to reverse aging in four weeks

Despite the noticeable changes in the indicators, scientists do not yet know whether the effect remains after the end of the experiment. It is also unknown whether changes in biomarkers lead to a lower risk of age-related diseases or an increase in life expectancy.

The study lasted only four weeks, so its results cannot be interpreted as evidence that a certain diet can permanently reverse the aging of the body. In addition, the study involved people only between the ages of 65 and 75, so it is not yet possible to say whether similar changes will be observed in younger people or other groups of the population.

According to the study's lead author, Caitlin Andrews, it's too early to say that certain dietary changes can prolong life. The researchers plan to find out whether the detected changes persist and whether they are associated with long-term health effects.