Protein Quantity and Source, Fasting-Mimicking Diets, and Longevity.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of animal studies and preliminary human clinical trials without systematic review or meta-analysis.
PubMed 31728501 · doi:10.1093/advances/nmz079
What was done
This narrative review summarizes literature regarding the effects of protein restriction, amino acid restriction, and periodic low-protein, low-calorie fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) on healthspan and longevity. The authors synthesize findings across model organisms (including rodents) and human clinical trials, focusing on biomarkers of aging, stem cell-based regeneration, and sex-specific responses to dietary interventions.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative results, effect sizes, or statistical metrics. It qualitatively reports that protein and amino acid restriction reduce aging-related comorbidities and that periodic FMDs combined with post-cycle refeeding may stimulate stem cell-based regeneration while avoiding the compliance issues and adverse effects (such as impaired wound healing or immune suppression) linked to chronic dietary restriction.
Why it matters
Chronic severe calorie or protein restriction is difficult for humans to maintain and carries safety risks; periodic fasting-mimicking protocols offer a potential translational framework to harness similar longevity pathways with improved compliance.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative data. As a narrative review, it is subject to selection bias. Most cited mechanisms rely on non-human model organisms, with the authors noting that data in primates and humans remain limited.
Cited by
- supports Periodic extended fasting that triggers preferential turnover of old proteins has been shown in animal studies to extend lifespan.