Fasting, not calorie count, boosts lifespan in mice
- Date: 19-Oct-2021
- Source: Kuwait Times
- Sector:Healthcare
- Country:Kuwait
Fasting, not calorie count, boosts lifespan in mice
Eating less often does more to improve the health and lifespan of rodents than simply eating less, a study said Monday. Researchers looking at mice on different diets found those who were fed fewer calories in a single daily feeding lived longer than mice eating the same number of calories distributed throughout the day. The study, published in Nature Metabolism, showed mice who ate only once a day also demonstrated improved metabolism. Study author Dudley Lamming of the University of Wisconsin told AFP that scientists have known for about a century that restricting calories extends the lifespan of rodents.
But previous studies on mice and calorie restriction had included unintentional fasting with mice typically fed just once a day. Lamming’s team decided to find out whether the timing between feedings might play a role-and discovered it was not the quantity of food alone that mattered. “Instead, calorie restricted diets ensure that mice are fasted for much of the day – and that imposed fasting-period (when we eat) is critical for the benefits of calorie restriction to life and health.”
Lamming’s team put mice on different diets, with a control group getting unlimited access to regular food. Two other groups had calories restricted