A Ketogenic Diet Extends Longevity and Healthspan in Adult Mice

Cell Metab. 2017 Sep 5;26(3):539-546.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.08.005.

Abstract

Calorie restriction, without malnutrition, has been shown to increase lifespan and is associated with a shift away from glycolysis toward beta-oxidation. The objective of this study was to mimic this metabolic shift using low-carbohydrate diets and to determine the influence of these diets on longevity and healthspan in mice. C57BL/6 mice were assigned to a ketogenic, low-carbohydrate, or control diet at 12 months of age and were either allowed to live their natural lifespan or tested for physiological function after 1 or 14 months of dietary intervention. The ketogenic diet (KD) significantly increased median lifespan and survival compared to controls. In aged mice, only those consuming a KD displayed preservation of physiological function. The KD increased protein acetylation levels and regulated mTORC1 signaling in a tissue-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that a KD extends longevity and healthspan in mice.

Keywords: aging; beta-hydroxybutyrate; healthspan; ketogenic diet; ketone bodies; ketones; lifespan; longevity; low-carbohydrate diet; memory.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted
  • Diet, Ketogenic*
  • Health*
  • Longevity / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Organ Specificity
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1