Calorie Restricted Diets Cause Monkeys to Age Slower

By Kelly Turner on August 25th, 2009

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A new study out has concluded that rhesus monkeys age slower when they eat  1/3 less calories than regular monkeys consume.

This isn’t the first time we have heard restricted diets can prolong life.  Researchers first discovered the connection between lower calorie diets and extended life spans in a 1935 study of calorie restricted rats.  In these studies, rodents where shown to live 20% to 80% longer than their peers.   Further studies in yeast and worms have shown extended life span results and have also helped scientist hone in on genes that may be responsible.

Scientists believe they have pinpointed the gene that somehow ramps up body systems to protect an organism when under environmental stress and that gene may have evolved to help an organismsurvive in situations where food is scarce. Twenty years ago, three different research groups in the United States decided to take it a step further. One of these groups reported data of 76 rhesus monkeys.  Led by gerontologist Richard Weindruch of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the team began monitoring the monkeys beginning at adulthood- age 7-14 for rhesus monkeys. Researchers allowed half of the monkeys to eat as much as food as they wanted, while restricting the other monkeys to 30% fewer calories. The restricted monkeys were given vitamins and supplements to ensure they were properly nourished, and were cared for if they fell ill.

The monkeys are now in their mid-twenties, and with an average life span of 27 years, the Wisconsin group can share their findings.   Seven control monkeys and nine restricted monkeys died from causes not related to aging, such as injuries.  Of the remaining monkeys 63% of the calorie-restricted monkeys are still alive compared to only 45% of the control monkeys. For those monkeys that did pass due to age related complications, those monkeys free to eat at will died at three times the rate of the calorie restricted monkeys: 14 to 5, respectively.  The restricted diets also reduced muscle and brain deterioration which are typical effects of aging.

Many believe this study shows lower calorie diets may have similiar effects on humans as primates are our close relatives, however there is no evidence of this thus far.  Many researchers feel the study is not far enough along, and not enough monkeys have yet passed to give accurate numbers, while some feel the evidence is compelling and warrants further research.

What do you think? Are the numbers shown enough to convince you calorie restricted monkeys live longer?  If calorie restriction was shown to prolong human life, would you slash your diet by 30%?