Switching to a vegan diet for just eight weeks can significantly boost anti-aging benefits, a new study reveals.
A groundbreaking study involving identical twins has found that following a healthy vegan diet for even a short time can offer anti-ageing effects, significantly reducing your biological age
The findings, published in BMC Medicine and highlighted in Netflix’s documentary You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, indicate that just eight weeks on a plant-based diet could offer substantial anti-ageing benefits.
The study tested the effects of a ‘vegan’ diet versus an omnivorous diet on biological age by involving 21 pairs of identical twins. One twin in each pair followed a plant-based diet, while the other followed an omnivorous diet.
Researchers measured epigenetic, or biological, age using DNA methylation levels, which are chemical changes in DNA that affect how genes are expressed without altering the DNA itself.
The study found that the ‘vegan’ diet led to a significant slowing of epigenetic ageing in participants, indicating that a plant-based diet could offer anti-ageing effects.
The results also revealed that the ‘vegan’ group experienced notable reductions in biological age of systems related to heart health, hormonal, liver, inflammatory, and metabolic functions.
The study into vegan vs omnivorous diets
The study was conducted by researchers at Stanford Prevention Research Center and epigenetic testing and research lab, TruDiagnostic.
21 pairs of identical twins were recruited for the study to ensure that genetic factors and variations in age and sex were controlled.
One twin in each pair adopted a healthy plant-based diet while the other continued with an omnivorous diet, which also focused on ‘healthy’ foods.
The study was divided into two four-week phases: the first involved meals provided by Trifecta Nutrition tailored to each diet, while the second phase required participants to prepare their own meals based on guidelines provided by health educators.
Dietary adherence was monitored through surprise 24-hour recalls and participant food logs, verified by registered dieticians.
The researchers focused on how these diets influenced blood DNA methylation and epigenetic ageing across various organ systems.
DNA methylation involves chemical changes that affect gene expression without altering the genetic code. Higher levels of DNA methylation are often associated with ageing.
Advanced analytical methods were used to uncover diet-specific shifts in clinical, metabolic, and protein markers.
Remarkably, within eight weeks the study found significant beneficial changes in participants following the vegan diet, suggesting that diet can rapidly influence biological ageing processes.
Speaking to Medical News Today, lead study author Varun Dwaraka, PhD, emphasised that the “results were surprising, even among interventions using epigenetic tests”
He noted that other epigenetic studies typically see noticeable changes happen after three to six months.
The anti-ageing benefits of a vegan diet
The study highlights several health benefits associated with a plant-based diet, which is generally rich in fibre, antioxidants, and plant foods known to support gut health, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy metabolic processes.
Some key advantages observed in the study include:
- Lower intake of saturated fat and processed foods: Participants on the ‘vegan’ diet had reduced caloric intake and consumed healthier fats.
- Higher nutrient density: The ‘vegan’ diet led to increased intake of fibre, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and essential nutrients, resulting in a more balanced and nutrient-rich diet.
- Better fatty acid balance: The ‘vegan’ diet improved the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, supporting overall health and reducing inflammation.
- Effective weight management: The ‘vegan’ participants lost an average of 2 kilograms more than those on the omnivorous diet, contributing to better weight management and overall health.
These dietary patterns were linked to positive changes in DNA methylation, suggesting that a plant-based diet may slow down or even reverse ageing processes.
Speaking to Medical News Today, Raghav Sehgal, a PhD candidate at Yale University, noted that multiple plant-based and meat-free diets tend to improve scores related to inflammation, metabolic, and musculoskeletal ageing.
“In other words, these diets may be specifically targeting inflammatory and metabolic ageing pathways via epigenetics in the body and slowing them down,” he concluded.
Original source: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com
https://www.animalagricultureclimatechange.org/vegan-make-you-younger/
