A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has found that reducing the amino acid isoleucine in diets can significantly improve health outcomes in mice. The study revealed that a low-isoleucine diet led to longer lifespans, leaner bodies, and reduced cancer and prostate problems in mice, despite higher calorie consumption.
The findings published in the journal Cell Metabolism also suggested that isoleucine intake impacts health beyond its caloric value, providing insights into healthy aging and metabolic processes. This could pave the way for new dietary recommendations and treatments aimed at improving human health.
Dudley Lamming, a professor and metabolism researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, led the study. The research showed that mice on a low-isoleucine diet lived longer, with males living an average of 33% longer and females living 7% longer. The mice also consumed more calories but maintained leaner bodies and better health due to metabolic adjustments.
The study challenges the traditional view that “a calorie is just a calorie” and suggests that different components of diets have value and impact beyond their function as a calorie. The research also found that dietary amino acids are linked to the aging process and healthspan.
While the results are promising, researchers noted that isoleucine is essential for humans to live, and modifying diets to reduce isoleucine intake is not an easy task. However, understanding the biological processes and potential interventions for humans, like an isoleucine-blocking drug, could lead to improved health outcomes.
Funding for the study was provided in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The results suggest that by choosing healthier foods, people might be able to lower isoleucine intake and make a positive difference.
The study, titled “Dietary restriction of isoleucine increases healthspan and lifespan of genetically heterogeneous mice,” indicates that the restriction of dietary isoleucine increases healthspan and longevity in genetically diverse mice, and may have potential as a geroprotective intervention.