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Dietary macronutrient content, age-specific mortality and lifespan.
Alistair M Senior1,2, Samantha M Solon-Biet1,2, Victoria C Cogger1,3,4
11 Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney , Camperdown, New South Wales 2006 , Australia.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|May 2, 2019
Summary
Dietary macronutrient ratios significantly impact lifespan and mortality variation in mice. Optimizing protein and carbohydrate intake across different life stages may minimize age-specific mortality for extended longevity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Nutritional Science
- Mammalian Aging and Mortality Patterns
Background:
- Dietary interventions, including protein and calorie restriction, are known to extend lifespan in various organisms.
- Beyond median lifespan, nutrition also influences the variation in age at death among individuals.
- Understanding the impact of nutrition on age-specific mortality (ASM) is crucial for elucidating lifespan determinants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dietary macronutrient composition on age-specific mortality (ASM) patterns in mice (Mus musculus).
- To determine how different macronutrient ratios influence life expectancy and variation in the age at death.
Main Methods:
- Utilized model life tables to analyze the relationship between dietary macronutrients and age-specific mortality in mice.
- Examined the impact of lifelong diets with varying macronutrient ratios (protein, fat, carbohydrates) on mortality patterns.
- Assessed the effects of self-selected macronutrient ratios and age-dependent dietary adjustments.
Main Results:
- High protein and fat diets relative to carbohydrates were linked to reduced life expectancy and increased mortality variation, primarily due to early-life mortality.
- A self-selected lifelong diet showed lower early-to-mid-life mortality but higher late-life mortality, resulting in moderate life expectancy and low mortality variation.
- Mortality in early and middle life was minimized with a protein-to-carbohydrate ratio of approximately 1:2.
- Late-life mortality was reduced with a ratio closer to 1:1 (protein to carbohydrate).
Conclusions:
- Dietary macronutrient composition profoundly affects age-specific mortality patterns and lifespan variation in mice.
- Tailoring the protein-to-carbohydrate ratio across different life stages, particularly in approach to old age, offers a potential strategy to minimize overall mortality.
- Optimizing dietary strategies based on age can lead to improved longevity and reduced variation in the age at death.
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