Clinical Experience of a Diet Designed to Reduce Aging

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Aging is associated with elevated levels of glucose, insulin, and triglycerides. Our objective was to assess the effect of a nutritional program designed to reduce these correlates of aging. DESIGN: This is a retrospective chart review of patients attending an outpatient metabolic management program including a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, nutritional supplementation and periodic individual visits. Outcomes measured at baseline and follow-up included body weight, fasting serum glucose, insulin, leptin, lipids, and thyroid hormone. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were identified with complete information. The mean age of patients was 57.6 ± 2.4 consisting of 53% female and 47% male patients. The average duration between follow up visits was 91.5 ± 8.5 days. Of the parameters measured at the follow-up visit, body weight, serum leptin, insulin, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and free T(3) significantly decreased by 8.1 ± 0.8%, 48.2 ± 3.8%, 40.1 ± 4.7%, 7.6 ± 2.1%, 28.3 ± 5.7%, and 10.8 ± 1.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the triglyceride/high density lipoprotein ratio decreased from 5.1 ± 1.7 to 2.6 ± 0.5. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of an outpatient medical clinic, a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet with nutritional supplementation led to improvements in serum factors related to the aging process. Further research regarding this dietary approach and its relationship to aging is in order.

Figure 1

Directional impact of dietary intervention on clinical parameters of aging. The percent change from baseline is indicated for the averaged data taken from each patient. (*p<0.001; data presented as ± S.E.M.) Abbreviations: Gluc, glucose; Crea, Creatinine; Trig, triglyceride; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; FT₃, free T₃; Wt, weight; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure.