Reduce Calorie Intake to Live Longer

Reduction in the Consumption of calories could slow down the process of ageing and age-related diseases like cancer and type 2 diabetes, states a new research. According to researchers at the University of Gothenburg, the earlier the calorie intake is reduced, the greater is the effect on ageing.

Using yeast cells as a model, the researchers also claim to have identified one of the enzymes that hold the key to the ageing process.

They found that active peroxiredoxin 1, Prx1, an enzyme that breaks down harmful hydrogen peroxide in the cells, is required for caloric restriction to work effectively.

Prx1 is damaged during ageing and loses its activity, buy caloric restriction counteracts this by increasing the production of another enzyme, Srx1, which repairs Prx1.

"We are able to show that caloric restriction slows down ageing by preventing an enzyme, peroxiredoxin, from being inactivated. This enzyme is also extremely important in counteracting damage to our genetic material," said Mikael Molin, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.

The study has been published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell.

Advertisement

Source-ANI