(24-02-13) Scientists reveal how calorie restriction prevents chronic diseases and extends lifespan

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Since the mid-1930s, scientists have theorized that lowering
caloric intake may lower the risk of many potentially deadly diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, and cancer. Studies performed on
virtually every animal and mammal species have demonstrated that dietary
restriction extends lifespan by 20 to 50 percent while dramatically lowering
the risk for developing most illnesses associated with aging. Over the past
decade, researchers have begun to test calorie restriction principles on one of
the longest living mammalian species, human beings.

Scientists from the Gladstone Institutes in California have identified a novel
mechanism by which a type of low-carb, low-calorie diet, commonly referred to
as a "ketogenic diet," could delay the effects of aging. Publishing in the
journal, Science, researchers reveal how such a diet could slow the aging
process and may one day allow practitioners to better treat or prevent age-
related diseases, including heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and many forms
of cancer.

As the baby boomer set continues to age, suddenly one in six Americans are
over the age of 65 and many are at significant risk for chronic disease and
early mortality. This has prompted researchers to advance their work to
determine how calorie restriction works at the cellular level and if it may
help prevent unnecessary illness and extend lifespan in this rapidly expanding
age group. To this end, scientists have identified the role that a chemical
compound in the human body plays in the aging process, and which may provide
the key to new therapies for treating or preventing a variety of age-related
diseases.

Dropping caloric intake by 20 percent ignites a health preserving metabolic
pathway to health
Researchers identified the compound Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB), a so-called
"ketone body" that is produced during a prolonged low-calorie or ketogenic
diet. Although ketones are considered toxic in high concentrations in people
with diabetes, lower concentrations help protect cells from "oxidative stress"
that is known to occur as certain molecules build to toxic levels in the body
and contribute to the aging process.

The lead study author, Dr. Eric Verdin commented "Here, we find that BOHB --
the body's major source of energy during exercise or fasting -- blocks a class
of enzymes that would otherwise promote oxidative stress, thus protecting cells
from aging." A growing number of people now follow a diet known as 'calorie
restriction with optimal nutrition' (CRON), where calories are cut by 20 to 30
percent in an attempt to minimize energy intake and ensure all nutritional
needs are met.

Although it will be years before CRON can be scientifically validated to
extend human lifespan, individuals following a ketogenic diet experience
significantly lower blood pressure, heart rate and glucose levels and likely
will be among the first to live beyond the current milestone of 120 years. Dr.
Verdin concluded "Identifying sOHB as a link between caloric restriction and
protection from oxidative stress opens up a variety of new avenues to
researchers for combating disease." Try slowly eliminating 10 to 20 percent of
your daily calorie intake to take advantage of this newly identified metabolic
pathway to dramatically lower chronic disease risk.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2012/12/05/science.1227166
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253748.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121206142025.htm

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