Calorie Restriction Improves Stem Cell Function

Researchers here briefly review the ability of calorie restriction to improve stem cell function in various different tissues over the course of aging. This is thought to be one of the ways in which the practice of calorie restriction slows aging, quite significantly in short-life species, and much less so in longer-lived species. Since the short-term metabolic changes, and benefits to health, produced by calorie restriction are quite similar across mammals of different life spans, it remains an open question as to exactly why life expectancy is only modestly affected in long-lived species. Calorie restriction induces sweeping changes in near every aspect of cellular metabolism, and neither metabolism nor the effects of calorie restriction are completely mapped and understood. It will be a while yet before the research community has answers to the deeper questions about species differences in the long-term benefits produced by calorie restriction. One of the most impactful and reproducible interventions that can slow down age-associated pathologies is calorie restriction (CR). CR is an intervention to prolong longevity, where the number of calories consumed is decreased but sufficient nutrition is maintained. Initially seen in a rodent study in 1935, recent findings have demonstrated its beneficial effect in mammals and primates. It has been thought that these advantages are mediated through stem cell proliferation and perseveration of stem cell activity, thus functi...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs