The study, funded by the Ministry of Education of Singapore and published in the journal Nature Aging, reinforces similar findings made in recent years. Much of the research data comes from the Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-term Effects of Reducing Energy Intake (CALERIE) project.
“Our analysis of CALERIE participants demonstrates that two years of moderate calorie restriction can considerably reduce a person’s biological age,” the study concluded.
Ways to Reduce Biological Age: Hunger (photoAC)
Chronological age is a direct measurement of aging. Simply put, it refers to the age a person was born. Unlike biological age, chronological age does not account for health status, lifestyle, genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. Biological age is determined by factors such as biomarkers, epigenetic changes, and physiological factors.
Within the scientific community, biological age is considered a more detailed and accurate reflection of an individual’s aging process because everyone’s biological age increases at a different rate.
“Biological age is the most crucial factor in determining an individual’s risk of disease and death. Often an individual’s biological age is inconsistent with their chronological age,” the researchers noted.
The study report states that although CALERIE participants who restricted their calorie intake “engaged in only moderate calorie restriction (12%),” there were “significant reductions in some known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and an estimated biological age reduction.”
In summary, the study reports, “The data suggests that calorie restriction can significantly slow biological aging under the conditions implemented in Project CALERIE.”
Ways to Reduce Biological Age: Hungry (pixabay)
Daniel Belsky, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, told Newsweek, “The CALERIE data in this paper confirms our previous research findings, demonstrating that the intervention of this project slowed down the rate of biological aging.”
“It is significant to observe similar results because different researchers used different tools and methods to test the hypotheses and arrived at the same conclusions,” he explained.
“This strengthens the confidence that Project CALERIE’s intervention can indeed slow biological aging,” said Belsky, who researches the relationship between caloric restriction, epigenetics, and aging. Last year, he published a paper on the epigenetic clock in the journal Nature Aging.
Caloric Restriction and Biological Aging
The study, funded by the Ministry of Education of Singapore and published in the journal Nature Aging, reiterates similar findings in recent years. Much of the data comes from the Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-term Effects of Reducing Energy Intake (CALERIE) research project.
“Our analysis of CALERIE participants shows that two years of mild calorie restriction can significantly reduce a person’s biological age,” the study said.
Biological Age vs. Chronological Age
Chronological age is a direct measure of aging. Simply put, it refers to the age at which a person is born. Unlike biological age, it does not take into account health status, lifestyle, genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. Biological age is determined through factors such as biomarkers, epigenetic changes, and physiological factors.
In the scientific community, biological age can reflect the aging process of an individual in a more detailed and accurate manner, because everyone’s biological age increases at a different rate.
“Biological age is the most important factor in determining an individual’s risk of disease and death, and an individual’s biological age is often inconsistent with chronological age,” the researchers wrote.
CALERIE Study Results
The study report states that although calorie-restricted participants in the CALERIE program “engaged in only relatively mild calorie restriction (12%),” there were “significant reductions in some known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and estimated biological age. It has also been reduced.”
In summary, the study reports: “The data indicate that calorie restriction can significantly slow biological aging under the conditions implemented in Project CALERIE.”
Expert Opinion
Daniel Belsky, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, told Newsweek: “The CALERIE data in this paper confirms our previous research results, showing that the intervention of this project slowed down The rate of biological aging.”
“It is important to observe similar results because different authors used different tools and different ways to test the hypotheses and came up with the same results,” he said.
“This builds confidence that Project CALERIE’s intervention can indeed slow biological aging,” said Belsky, who studies the relationship between caloric restriction, epigenetics and aging and published a paper last year in “A paper on the epigenetic clock was published in the journal Nature Aging.
Implications for Healthy Aging
This research suggests that a calorie-restricted lifestyle, even in a moderate form, can be a powerful tool for slowing down the aging process and reducing the risk of age-related diseases. While individual results may vary, the study findings are encouraging and support the potential benefits of caloric restriction for promoting healthier aging.
It’s important to note that calorie restriction should be considered within the broader context of a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, sufficient sleep, stress management, and a balanced diet. Consult with a healthcare professional before embarking on any significant dietary changes, particularly if you have any underlying health conditions.