Onset of puberty and duration of fertility in rats fed a restricted diet.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Non-human animal study
PubMed 513013 · doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0570253
What was done
CFY Sprague-Dawley female rats were placed on a chronic dietary restriction regimen maintaining body weight at 50% of ad libitum-fed controls. The study monitored lifespan (LD 50), onset of puberty, and the age-related duration of breeding ability.
What was found
Dietary restriction extended median lifespan (LD 50 of 1090 days vs 704 days in controls). All restricted females achieved puberty by 227 days. At 510 days of age, 80% of restricted females conceived and weaned young, whereas control rats had ceased breeding by 450 days. Additionally, 25% of restricted rats were able to breed at over 800 days of age.
Why it matters
It provides early experimental evidence in rodents that chronic caloric restriction significantly delays reproductive senescence alongside extending overall longevity.
Limits
Findings are from an animal model and cannot be directly extrapolated to human reproductive lifespan. The abstract does not report the total sample size (n), statistical significance tests, or details on litter health and nutritional composition.
Cited by
- supports If female rats on 40% calorie restriction that have ceased cycling are returned to ad libitum feeding, they regain weight, resume cycling, and maintain fertility to an older age than continuously ad libitum-fed rats.