A short-term vegan diet has been shown to lower biological age.
A recent study published in BMC Medicine suggests that a short-term vegan diet may lower biological age.
The research team investigated how a vegan diet, compared to an omnivorous diet, affects biological age and overall health. They conducted an 8-week study comparing the effects of vegan and omnivorous diets on participants’ estimated biological age.
Biological age indicates overall health and the risk of age-related diseases such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s. The researchers used DNA methylation to estimate biological age, a process where chemical changes affect gene expression without altering the DNA. Higher levels of DNA methylation are associated with more advanced aging.
The study involved 21 pairs of healthy adult identical twins. One twin from each pair followed a healthy vegan diet, while the other followed a mixed diet that included both plant- and animal-based foods.
By studying twins, the researchers were able to control for variables like genetics, age, and sex, allowing them to focus specifically on how diet affects DNA methylation.
Among the participants, 77% were female, with an average age of 40 and an average BMI of 26. The omnivorous group consumed a set amount of animal products daily, while the vegan group avoided all animal products, including meat, eggs, and dairy.
The researchers closely monitored dietary habits using 24-hour recall interviews and food logs, ensuring data accuracy with the help of professional nutritionists.
After analyzing DNA methylation and various markers of epigenetic aging across different organs, the researchers found diet-specific changes. They reported that the vegan group showed a decrease in the biological age of their heart, hormonal system, liver, inflammation levels, and metabolism. Additionally, their C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a marker of systemic inflammation, decreased.
In contrast, the omnivorous group did not show a decrease in epigenetic age but did exhibit an increase in tryptophan, an amino acid found in animal protein.
Although each diet group experienced unique changes in DNA methylation, only the vegan group showed beneficial methylation changes that could potentially lead to a reduction in biological age.
The researchers noted that while they do not fully understand how a plant-based diet influences epigenetic aging, they believe that a vegan diet leads to higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
Such a diet is typically lower in saturated fats, processed foods, and calorie density while higher in fiber, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and nutrient density, leading to lower BMI, visceral fat, and body fat.
However, experts cautioned that the 8-week period is too short to assess long-term effects, and the study’s sample size of 21 twin pairs is too small to draw definitive conclusions.
They suggested that the observed reduction in biological age might be due to physical changes associated with weight loss and other factors related to the vegan diet rather than the diet itself.
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