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Low-calorie diet may prolong life
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
A well-thought-out low-calorie diet can help extend human life. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, together with scientists from the National Institute on Aging.
The study was conducted on animals – namely, rhesus macaques: due to their physiological characteristics, rhesus macaques have much in common with humans and are often used by scientists as a “model” of the human body.
The results of the experiment showed that reducing the caloric content of the diet makes life longer and reduces the risk of developing age-related diseases.
A couple of large-scale and long-term experiments were launched back in the late 80s of the last century.
One experiment, involving 76 macaques, was conducted at the University of Wisconsin.
The second experiment, involving 121 macaques in the process, was conducted by scientists from the National Institute on Aging.
The results of the first and second studies were fundamentally different: in the first case, it turned out that cutting calories improved the quality and life expectancy of the monkeys. In the second case, scientists did not notice any effect of changes in nutrition on the life expectancy of the experimental macaques.
The experts decided to conduct an additional analysis of the information obtained on the basis of the two experiments, since it was very important to determine the real reason for such contradictions.
As it turned out, the first and second studies were not absolutely identical and differed significantly from each other. For example, the National Institute on Aging controlled the effect of diet on young monkeys, despite the fact that life expectancy was considered from the perspective of older, or even elderly individuals. In addition, discrepancies were noted in the composition of the diet and the list of food products. At the University of Wisconsin, monkeys were offered food with a fairly high sugar content, so differences in the body weight of the animals were clearly visible.
Having analyzed the differences between the studies, the scientists came to the unambiguous conclusion that limiting the caloric content of the daily diet by 30% had a positive effect on the life expectancy of primates - and this is approximately 2 years for male macaques and six years for female macaques. At the same time, six monkeys turned out to be long-livers in their own way, as they lived for more than forty years. At the same time, limited caloric intake reduced the risk of developing cancer and heart and vascular diseases.
Although such studies on humans have not been conducted and are not even planned, experts are inclined to believe that the results of the experiments will allow for the development of clear principles of dietary nutrition aimed at prolonging human life. True, this will most likely require new studies that could last for decades. However, the end justifies the means, as one of the participants in this research project believes.
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