Protein Restriction Linked to Increased Lifespan: New Research Insights
Trends in healthy eating are constantly evolving based on scientific research. Once, fats were feared, but they have been rehabilitated. The Harvard food pyramid has changed, and now the focus on protein may need reevaluation.
Limiting protein intake extends lifespan across many species, from yeast to mammals. Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (USA) published a study in Cell Metabolism analyzing how the body responds to protein deficiency.
They proposed a new perspective: the body initiates a coordinated adaptive program in response to protein scarcity. This begins with cellular amino acid sensors present in all eukaryotes, with signals transmitted through endocrine and nervous systems.
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In mammals, the hormone FGF21 plays a central role, produced in the liver during protein deficiency. It coordinates changes in diet and metabolism. In male mice lacking FGF21, protein restriction does not extend lifespan.
Drosophila flies have an independent system with similar functions. Hormones in their gut signal protein deficiency or excess, influencing food preferences and lifespan.
Researchers concluded that the intensity of protein appetite or FGF21 levels could serve as biomarkers for the body's adaptive response. The benefits of protein restriction depend on the activation of the entire program, explaining variations in effects among individuals.
The authors suggested viewing protein restriction as a complex organismal response that may determine the duration of healthy life.
