Fasting, not calorie count, boosts lifespan in mice

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