Caloric restriction protects chromosomes and lowers incidents of disease

Posted on January 24, 2013 by

One of the key hallmarks of cell health is the the DNA and its wrapping, the chromosomes. When chromosomes suffer changes they can become the source of illnesses such as cancer and aging processes. In a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers found that lowering food intake over time results in an increase of the telomere length–the ends of the chromosomes. This was found consistently in adult mice but the researcher believe that it works the same way in humans and studies are being prepared to confirm this. Mice in the study fed lower caloric intake showed a reduction in the incidents of cancer and also in age related disorders including osteoporosis. They also had greater glucose uptake and better motor control.

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