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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
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Solid Plate-based Dietary Restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: May 28, 2011
Life extension by calorie restriction in humans
Arthur V Everitt1, David G Le Couteur
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney, and Concord RG Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia. arthureveritt@yahoo.com.au
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|August 25, 2007
Summary
Calorie restriction (CR) extends rat lifespan by 25%. In humans, CR shows potential for increasing life expectancy by improving health markers, though human life extension effects are likely modest compared to medical advances.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Longevity Research
Background:
- Calorie restriction (CR) significantly extends lifespan in laboratory rats.
- Human studies on CR are limited to shorter durations, but show positive effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health markers.
- CR may improve biomarkers associated with longevity, such as body temperature and insulin levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential impact of long-term calorie restriction on human life expectancy.
- To compare the estimated life extension effects of CR with those of medical and public health interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing short-term human CR trials (2-6 years).
- Analysis of population data (Okinawans, gender calorie intake differences).
- Extrapolation from survival studies in overweight and obese populations.
Main Results:
- Short-term CR (20%) in humans is linked to reduced body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose.
- CR for 6 months improved longevity biomarkers like deep body temperature and plasma insulin.
- Estimated life extension from CR in humans ranges from 3-13 years, based on preventing excessive weight gain.
Conclusions:
- While CR shows promise for improving health and potentially increasing life expectancy in humans, its effects are likely less dramatic than those achieved by 20th-century medical and public health advancements.
- CR's impact on human longevity is estimated to be significantly smaller than the ~30 years gained from reduced mortality due to infections, accidents, and cardiovascular disease.
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