Researchers revealed interesting results after asking 21 pairs of twins to go on separate meat or vegan diets for eight weeks.
No matter what your preferred diet is, there’s always someone who claims theirs is the best. Some people follow plant-based diets, while others opt for a combination of meat and vegetables. There are even those who consume raw meat. But here’s something fascinating: new research suggests that even a short-term commitment to a vegan diet can significantly affect your biological age.
In a recent study, 21 pairs of adult identical twins participated. One twin followed an omnivorous diet for eight weeks, consuming 170-225 grams of meat, one egg, and 1.5 servings of dairy per day. Meanwhile, the other twin adhered to a vegan diet for the same duration. During the first four weeks, participants were provided with prepared meals. For the remaining four weeks, they prepared their own meals after receiving nutrition classes.
The average age of the participants was 40, with a body mass index (BMI) of 26 kilos per square meter. The study also included slightly more women, accounting for 77% of the participants.
Throughout the study, blood samples were taken every four weeks to analyze the levels of a chemical modification of DNA called DNA methylation, which can impact gene expression. The results, published in the journal BMC Medicine, showed a decrease in estimates of biological age, known as epigenetic aging clocks, among the participants who adhered to the vegan diet. However, there were no such decreases observed in those who followed the omnivorous diet.
Professor Christopher Gardner of Stanford University commented on the findings, stating, “We also observed decreases in the ages of the heart, hormone, liver, and inflammatory and metabolic systems of participants who ate a vegan, but not an omnivorous diet, for eight weeks.”
The researchers noted that it is unclear how much the diets contributed to the observed differences. Additionally, biological age was not the only area where variations were noticed. The study also revealed that participants on the vegan diet lost an average of two kilos (4.4 lbs) more than those on the omnivorous diet, possibly due to the calorie differences of the provided meals during the initial four weeks. This weight loss may have contributed to the differences in epigenetic age between the two groups.
Dr. Varun Dwaraka, corresponding author of the study, emphasized the need for further research to investigate the relationship between dietary composition, weight, and aging, as well as the long-term effects of vegan diets.
In summary, this study demonstrates the potential of vegan diets to impact biological age and promote weight loss. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these effects, it offers promising insights into the relationship between diet and aging.
