A new study investigated the influence of switching to a vegan diet in twins, finding that even a short-term change in food choices appears to alter biological age.
The observational study raises interesting questions about the influence of diet on biological age, including the long- and short-term effects of switching to a vegan diet and whether meat exclusion or calorie reduction are more significant factors.
The small study enrolled 21 twins to observe what changes occur when one eats a vegan diet while the other eats an omnivorous diet, which includes meat, for two months. The study authors focused specifically on changes in DNA methylation levels, an epigenetic process that influences how genes are expressed. Generally, an increase in DNA methylation is considered a marker of aging.
Biological age, influenced by diet?
DNA methylation can be analyzed by taking blood samples, so these were collected from study participants at the beginning and end of the eight-week period. The samples were then compared to see if and how the participants on the vegan diet changed compared to those on the omnivorous diet over the course of two months.
Twins who were assigned to a vegan diet showed a reduction in biological age, as well as a reduction in markers of aging for the cardiovascular, hormonal, liver, and inflammation and metabolism systems. This reduction was not seen in twins who ate an omnivorous diet, writes IFL Science.
As an observational study, the experiment cannot assume causality, meaning the authors cannot say with certainty that the younger biological age can be attributed to the vegan diet. Another possible explanation may be due to weight loss, as those who followed a vegan diet lost an average of two kilograms from the beginning of the study to the end.
The long-term effects of the vegan diet are not yet known
Although it is interesting to see a reduction in biological age after a short period of time, the length of the study means that the long-term effects of dietary changes were not included.
“If a vegan diet is not supplemented with vitamin B12, a vitamin B12 deficiency occurs that causes chronic and often insidious damage to the nervous system,” a declarat Tom SandersEmeritus Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College London (KCL), England.
“Long-term observational studies of vegans also show adverse effects on bone density, probably caused by very low calcium intake and marginally adequate protein intake,” the professor continues.
“Although observational studies indicate that vegan diets may have favorable health effects in middle age (such as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes), this is not the case for older vegans, who appear more prone to to loss of muscle mass, low bone density and neurological disorders that have a significant impact on quality of life. In fact, life expectancy does not differ between vegans and those following mixed diets,” Sanders points out.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that changing DNA methylation will lead to a longer life. In terms of observational studies and longevity, it would be good to take a look at the lifestyles of people living in the Blue Zones.
The study was published in BMC Medicine.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
