supplemented ‘longevity diet’ linked to longer healthy lifespan

Key Points:

• A USC-led study found that a low-protein, plant- and fish-based diet supplemented with small amounts of methionine, an amino acid found in animal products, increased healthy lifespan and reduced frailty and fat mass in mice.
• Analysis of data from over 200,000 people showed similar benefits in humans, with a plant-focused diet linked to lower obesity and Type 2 diabetes rates, supporting a Mediterranean-inspired "longevity diet" that includes fish for essential amino acids.
• The study revealed that methionine levels, rather than total protein intake, are crucial for metabolic health, as mice on the methionine-supplemented diet ate more calories yet lost fat without losing lean mass.
• Human data indicated that high animal protein intake, and thus higher methionine consumption, correlated with greater obesity and diabetes prevalence despite lower calorie intake, challenging the idea that calorie reduction alone drives weight loss.
• Researchers plan to conduct controlled clinical trials to test the longevity diet's effects in humans, with some study authors holding patents and equity related to dietary interventions for aging and metabolism.