New Study Reveals Anti-Aging Benefits of a Vegan Diet
Adopting a vegan diet for just two months can significantly reduce your biological age, according to new research. Scientists found that an eight-week vegan diet led to lower biological age estimations.
Research Findings
An American research team conducted a study involving 21 pairs of adult identical twins. Their findings, published in the journal BMC Medicine, were based on DNA methylation levels. DNA methylation is a chemical modification of DNA that affects gene expression but not the DNA sequence itself. Higher levels of DNA methylation have been linked to aging.
The study instructed one twin from each pair to follow an omnivorous diet, including 170-225 grams of meat, one egg, and 1.5 servings of dairy daily, while the other twin followed a vegan diet for the same period. Participants averaged 40 years old with a body mass index (BMI) of 26 kg/m², and 77% were women.
Study Methodology
For the first four weeks, participants received prepared meals, and for the next four weeks, they prepared their own meals after receiving nutrition classes. Researchers collected blood samples at the start, week four, and week eight to analyze DNA methylation levels and infer biological ages and organ system ages.
Results
By the end of the study, participants on the vegan diet showed reduced estimates of biological age, known as epigenetic aging clocks. Professor Christopher Gardner of Stanford University stated, “We also observed decreases in the ages of the heart, hormone, liver, and inflammatory and metabolic systems in participants who ate a vegan diet for eight weeks.”
Weight Loss and Diet Composition
The study noted that participants on the vegan diet lost an average of two kilos (4.4 lbs) more than those on the omnivorous diet, possibly due to differences in calorie content during the first four weeks. Researchers suggest this weight loss could have contributed to the observed differences in epigenetic age.
Further Research Needed
Dr. Varun Dwaraka of TruDiagnostic Inc. emphasized the need for further research to explore the relationship between dietary composition, weight, and aging, as well as the long-term effects of vegan diets.
This study highlights the potential anti-aging benefits of a vegan diet, showing that even a short-term dietary change can have significant effects on biological age.
References:
- BMC Medicine Journal
- Statements by Professor Christopher Gardner and Dr. Varun Dwaraka
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