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Calorie restriction could improve health outcomes related to aging

A 12% restriction in calories among average or slightly overweight individuals improved risk factors for age related diseases, as well as influenced blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin resistance, according to data from a recently released NIH-funded study.

“The CALERIE results are quite intriguing. They show that this degree of sustained calorie restriction can influence disease risk factors and possible predictors of longevity in healthy, non-obese people. It will be important to learn how calorie restriction at this level affects these factors despite the lack of the predicted metabolic effects,” Evan Hadley, MD, director of NIH’s Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, said in a press release.

To assess the correlation between caloric restriction (CR) and quality of life, disease risk factors and prediction of life span, Hadley and colleagues conducted the 2-year Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trial. Participants (n = 218), who were between the ages of 21 and 51 years and were either normal weight or moderately overweight, were randomized into two groups. One group was asked to reduce their calorie intake by 25%, and the other group maintained their regular diet.

Results demonstrated that participants in the CR group achieved an 11.7% CR during the first year, rather than the original goal of 25%. However, the CR group did maintain a 10.4% weight loss for the duration of the study.

No significant changes were seen in the control group’s weight or caloric intake.

Participants in the CR group saw a 4% decrease in BP and a 6% decrease in total cholesterol, according to the study. Additionally, a 47% reduction in C-reactive protein levels and a 20% reduction in T3 was seen in the CR group, according to a press release.

The researchers noted the importance of CR being monitored by health care professionals to avoid any adverse events.

Further studies are needed to assess the risks and benefits of CR, according to the researchers.

“Since this group already had low risk factor levels at the start of the study, it’s important to find out whether these further reductions would yield additional long-term benefits. It also would be useful to discover if calorie restriction over longer periods has additional effects on predictors of health in old age, and compare its effects with exercise-induced weight loss,” Hadley said in the release. – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.