Researchers at the University of Sydney suggest altering your diet, even later in life, could impact aging within a month. They conducted a study with 104 participants aged 65 to 75, assigning them to four different diets.
Study Details
The diets consisted of two omnivorous options and two primarily plant-based ones. Both omnivorous diets incorporated protein from animal and plant sources. The plant-based diets sourced 70% of their protein from plants. Each diet had versions high in either fat or carbohydrates, receiving 14% of energy from protein.
The researchers aimed to understand how these diets influenced ‘biological age’—a measurement of bodily health indicators known as biomarkers. These indicators provide insights into the body’s condition that chronological age does not always reveal.
Findings
After four weeks, the scientists evaluated 20 biomarkers, including cholesterol and insulin levels, to assess the impact of dietary changes on aging. They observed reduction in biological age in participants from three out of four diet groups. Only those on a high-fat omnivorous diet showed no significant change.
Biological age is a more reliable indicator of overall health and potential longevity than chronological age.
The study, published in Aging Cell, concluded that significant improvements appeared in those consuming diets abundant in complex carbohydrates and plant-based foods.
Future Implications
The research is still preliminary, and the team advises that these results may signify only short-term effects. Caitlin Andrews, the lead researcher, emphasized caution, noting that it remains too early to confirm if specific dietary changes could definitively extend life span. Nonetheless, these findings provide an initial look at the possible benefits of modifying diet later in life.
Fox News Digital contacted the study authors for comments. Teresa Mull, a freelance writer for the Fox News Lifestyle team, contributed to this report.
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