Fewer Calories May Equate to a Longer Life

July 17, 2009 -- posted by FitcomHealth.com A continual and consistent ultra-low calorie diet may prolong life in humans. This is all according to a recent 20-year study of rhesus monkeys published in the journal Science. The early evidence of that study indicates that monkeys fed a calorie restricted diet are more likely to live healthier and longer lives than those allowed to eat all they want.

The concept of calorie restriction prolonging life in humans is not new, it has been around in some form since the 1930's. Today it is commonly referred to as CR or calorie restriction dieting. There is even a book called the Longevity Diet which is a low calorie, low glycemic index diet maximizes foods high in vitamins and minerals. The author claims that if you eat this way, you will live longer.

"Monkeys in the calorie-restricted group are more likely to live healthier, longer."

~ Ricki Colman, Ph.D., Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, in Madison

The above 2 monkeys are only a year apart in age. The calorie restricted monkey on the left is more youthful and healthier than the one on the right that was allowed to consume all he wanted.

The previous anecdotal evidence has been supported recently by scientific evidence that links calorie restriction to longevity. This most recent study, which consists of reducing calorie intake by 30%, confirms in primates what's long been known in other species, including mice, worms, and flies. Since rhesus monkeys are primates that share a lot of similar attributes to humans, it's not too much of a leap to say that humans too could benefit from low calorie diets. But it begs the question why?

How Does a Low Calorie Diet Prolong Life?

It may not necessarily mean that lower calorie diets prolong life, per se, it may mean that lower calorie diets, prevent obesity, high body fat, high blood lipids, and so on that actually shorten life. By removing the factors that shorten life, you have in essence prolonged life.

Another theory is that controlling calories can help people lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases. Eating healthy, nutrient-dense foods can also produce important physiologic changes in the body, which may lower disease risk.

According to Dr. Andrew Weil as posted on his website: "Alternatively, caloric restriction may just allow a normal lifespan, meaning one that hasn't been shortened by overeating. Researchers may possibly find a way of producing the same end result with some intervention that allows people to continue to eat normally."

In the study of 76 adult rhesus monkeys, the researchers analyzed how much the monkeys were eating and then cut the calories by 10% each month for three months in the calorie-restricted group and then leveled off at a 30% net reduction in daily caloric intake. The other control group monkeys were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. All the monkeys were feed the same nutritious foods, only the volume differed.

"The new study shows the effects of calorie restriction in primates that are closely related to humans," says lead researcher Ricki Colman, Ph.D., an associate scientist at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, in Madison. "Monkeys in the calorie-restricted group are more likely to live healthier, longer." The oldest monkey in the study is now 29. This species has an average lifespan of 27 when in captivity.

"We don't know about ultimate longevity yet, but the monkeys in the calorie-restricted group are unencumbered by age-related diseases and brain atrophy, which is linked to cognitive ability," says Colman.

Monkeys in both groups consumed very healthful diets. "We are studying calorie restriction, not malnutrition," stresses Colman, who does not follow this type of diet herself. The study diet included 15% protein and 10% fat and was enriched with vitamins.

An average adult male consumes 2,618 calories a day, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

A Word of Caution

For people, without in-depth knowledge of nutrition, who choose to adopt a calorie restrictive diet, there are potential risks. The less calories one consumes, the less nutrition one also consumes, and if the wrong nutrients are missing, that could be problematic.

Malena Perdomo, R.D., an American Dietetic Association spokesperson and a clinical outpatient dietitian at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, in Denver, says the new study is interesting. "We have seen similar results in mice and we know that by controlling body weight, we have better health outcomes," she says.

Controlling portion sizes and reducing calories is the key to weight loss, but restricting calories should be done carefully, she advises. "The first step is to get rid of high fat, high sugar foods in the diet, and then we move on to the quality of diet and make sure there are adequate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy in the diet."

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