Visceral adipose tissue modulates mammalian longevity.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Metabolic Science
• Aging Research

Background:

• Caloric restriction (CR) is known to delay age-related diseases and extend lifespan.
• Increased adiposity, particularly visceral fat (VF), is linked to accelerated aging and metabolic syndrome.
• Previous studies showed VF removal improves insulin action in rats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of visceral fat (VF) removal on longevity in rats.
• To compare the effects of VF removal and CR on lifespan and healthspan.

Main Methods:

• Prospective lifespan study in three groups of rats: ad libitum-fed (AL-fed), CR (60% of AL), and AL-fed with surgical VF removal (VF-removed).
• Monitored lifespan, incidence of severe renal disease, and mortality rates.

Main Results:

• VF-removed rats exhibited significantly increased mean and maximum lifespan compared to AL-fed controls.
• VF removal led to a significant reduction in severe renal disease incidence.
• CR rats showed the greatest mean and maximum lifespan and the lowest mortality rate.

Conclusions:

• Reduction in visceral fat mass is directly linked to increased longevity and improved healthspan in rats.
• These findings suggest that reducing fat mass, specifically VF, is a potential mechanism underlying the anti-aging effects of CR.
• Targeting visceral fat may offer therapeutic strategies for promoting healthy aging.