A new study has found that adopting a vegan diet for just eight weeks can reduce biological aging estimations based on changes in DNA methylation. This research focused on the epigenetic effects of a vegan diet, which have been largely unexplored compared to an omnivore diet. Despite concerns about potential dietary deficiencies in essential nutrients for effective epigenetic regulation, previous studies have shown the positive impacts of specific components of a vegan diet, such as increased intake of fruits and vegetables, on epigenetic aging.
The study utilized genetically identical twins to control for genetic differences, upbringing, and lifestyle choices that might influence the results. This study design is rarely used in nutritional research due to the difficulty of recruiting identical twins for dietary intervention studies. The participants, consisting mostly of healthy women in their 40s with a BMI below 40, were assigned either a vegan or omnivorous diet for eight weeks. Both diets were healthy and included vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains, with the vegan diet excluding animal products.
During the study, participants received meals from a meal service for the first four weeks and then prepared their meals for the remaining four weeks after receiving nutrition classes. Blood samples were collected and analyzed at baseline, week four, and week eight to assess DNA methylation levels and infer biological ages. The results showed decreases in the biological age estimates of participants who followed a vegan diet, along with reductions in the ages of their hearts, livers, and inflammatory and metabolic systems.
The vegans also experienced a decrease in LDL cholesterol, insulin levels, and body weight compared to the omnivores. However, the vegan study participants lost more weight during the study, which could have contributed to the observed differences in epigenetic age between the groups. Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between dietary composition, weight, and aging, as well as the long-term effects of vegan diets.
Professor Gardner, the senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of including more plant-based foods in the diet, even if not strictly vegan. He suggested enjoying vegan multicultural foods as a first step towards a healthier diet. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the benefits of consuming a healthy vegan diet and its impact on aging. It highlights the potential of plant-based diets to improve health and slow biological aging, paving the way for future research in this area.
