A recent study from Spain suggests that a low-calorie ketogenic diet may help reverse biological aging by over six years.
The research focused on obesity and epigenetic aging, which measures how a person’s body ages at a molecular level. Obesity affects over 40% of adults in the United States and is linked to various health issues.
Epigenetic aging refers to how one’s biological age can be different from their chronological age. This discrepancy is often associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases and a shorter lifespan.
The new study, published in Nutrients, explored whether a low-calorie ketogenic diet could help reverse this accelerated aging.
The ketogenic diet, which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, has gained popularity for weight loss. While originally used to treat epilepsy, the diet has sparked debate due to its potential impact on cholesterol levels and heart disease. The study aimed to explore its effect on biological aging.
Obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 or higher, accelerates biological aging by altering DNA methylation patterns. This process, measured by epigenetic clocks, can lead to a higher biological age than chronological age, increasing the risk of premature aging and a shorter lifespan.
The study included two cohorts: a cross-sectional group with normal weight and obese individuals, and a longitudinal group of 10 people with obesity. The researchers used three epigenetic age clocks to assess biological age.
Participants in the longitudinal group were placed on a very low-calorie ketogenic diet for 180 days. Blood samples were taken at baseline, after 30 days, and at the 180-day endpoint to measure biological age. The results showed a remarkable reduction in epigenetic age.
After 180 days on the ketogenic diet, participants experienced a deceleration in biological age by 6.2 years, confirming the potential of this diet to reverse aging. The researchers attributed the effect to nutritional ketosis, a state where the body burns fat for energy.
In addition to the age reversal, participants showed improvements in glucose and insulin levels, which is significant for those at risk of type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that obesity and biological aging are connected and that this process may be reversible.
The researchers concluded that their findings warrant further investigation, urging larger studies to better understand the role of ketone bodies in aging and health.
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