Eating a vegan diet for short period can help reduce biological age: Study

Image for representational purposes only. Photo Courtesy: iStock

Eating a vegan diet for eight weeks can help reduce biological age estimations, according to a small study.

Knowing biological age can help understand the risk of diabetes or dementia. The research, published in the journal BMC Medicine, showed that the age reduction observed was based on levels of DNA methylation -- a type of chemical modification of DNA (known as an epigenetic modification) that alters gene expression but not DNA itself.

IN PHOTOS: Torrential rains cause flood-like situation in Gujarat`s Nadiad

4 months agoPHOTO GALLERY

The new study, a randomised, controlled trial of 21 pairs of adult identical twins, investigated the molecular effects of a short-term vegan diet.

The team instructed one-half of each twin pair to eat an omnivorous diet for eight weeks -- including between 170 and 225 grams of meat, one egg, and one and a half servings of dairy each day -- and the other half to eat a vegan diet for the same length of time.

The team found decreases in estimates of biological age -- known as epigenetic ageing clocks -- in participants who ate a vegan diet but not among those that ate an omnivorous diet.

People on a vegan diet also had decreases in the ages of the heart, hormone, liver, and inflammatory and metabolic systems. They also lost two kilograms more on average than those who ate an omnivorous diet due to differences in the calorie contents.

The findings are unclear, said the team stressing the need to investigate further the relationship between dietary composition, weight and ageing.

Also read: Mumbai's tryst with tigers and the need for conservation plans

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever