Scientists Find Longevity Diet That Helped Mice Eat More and Lose Fat
A study on mice reveals that a low-protein diet with balanced methionine levels improves health and reduces body fat despite higher food intake. Human data from over 200,000 people show similar benefits.
New Research on Longevity Diet
Researchers at the University of Southern California have found that a diet based mainly on plants and fish, low in protein but with carefully balanced methionine levels, helped mice stay healthier as they aged. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, showed that mice on this diet had a longer healthspan, less body fat, and reduced frailty. In the study, 20-month-old mice were fed one of four diets: standard, Western (high fat and sugar), low-carb ketogenic, or a low-protein methionine-supplemented longevity diet (LDMM). The LDMM group performed best.
Role of Methionine
Lead author Maura Fanti noted that modulating just one amino acid, methionine, produced dramatic metabolic changes, suggesting that amino acid composition, not just total protein, may be key. Despite eating more food and consuming similar calories, mice on LDMM lost body fat and maintained lean muscle. They also showed increased levels of GLP-1 and other metabolic regulators.
Human Data
Analysis of data from over 200,000 people revealed similar patterns. Those consuming the most animal protein (and thus most methionine) had higher obesity rates and were twice as likely to have Type 2 diabetes compared to those eating little animal protein. These differences persisted even when high-protein consumers ate fewer calories.
Next Steps
The team plans to test the LDMM in controlled human clinical trials. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging and others. Senior author Valter Longo has equity interest in L-Nutra and patents related to fasting-mimicking diets.
