A Ketogenic Diet Extends Longevity and Healthspan in Adult Mice.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Preclinical animal interventional study
PubMed 28877457 · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2017.08.005
What was done
C57BL/6 mice were assigned to a ketogenic, low-carbohydrate, or control diet starting at 12 months of age. Mice were followed either to evaluate natural lifespan and survival or to test physiological function after 1 or 14 months of dietary intervention. Mechanistic markers including protein acetylation and mTORC1 signaling were also assessed across tissues.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, median survival times, hazard ratios, or test statistics. It states qualitatively that the ketogenic diet significantly increased median lifespan and survival compared with controls, preserved physiological function in aged mice, increased protein acetylation, and regulated mTORC1 signaling in a tissue-dependent manner.
Why it matters
This study provides preclinical evidence that shifting metabolism toward ketosis without total caloric restriction can extend lifespan and preserve functional capacity in an aging mammal.
Limits
Findings are limited to an inbred mouse strain (C57BL/6) and cannot be directly extrapolated to humans. The abstract does not report sample sizes, absolute lifespan numbers, specific physiological testing metrics, or potential long-term adverse effects.
Cited by
- supports Preclinical studies by Dr. Eric Verdin and Dr. John Ramsey showed that feeding mice a cyclical ketogenic diet in midlife improved median lifespan and healthspan without affecting maximum lifespan.
- supports Rodent studies by Verdin and Ramsey demonstrated suppression of spontaneous tumor formation on a ketogenic diet.
- supports Published rodent studies by Eric Verdin and John Ramsey showed a reduction in the incidence of spontaneous tumors on a ketogenic diet.