Following a vegan diet for eight weeks is linked to reductions in biological age, as estimated through DNA methylation levels—a chemical modification of DNA (known as an epigenetic change) that affects gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.
Earlier studies have shown that increased DNA methylation is associated with aging.
For this randomized, controlled trial involving 21 pairs of adult identical twins. Researchers instructed one twin in each pair to follow an omnivorous diet for eight weeks—consuming 170 to 225 grams of meat, one egg, and one and a half servings of dairy daily—while the other twin followed a vegan diet for the same period.
The average age of the participants was 40 years old and an average body mass index of 26 . During the first four weeks, participants received prepared meals; during the last four weeks, they prepared their own meals after attending nutrition classes provided by health educators.
Blood samples were collected at baseline at the start, at week four, and at week eight of the study to measure DNA methylation levels and estimate the biological ages of participants and their organ systems.
By the end of the study, participants on the vegan diet showed reduced biological age estimates compared to those on the omnivorous diet. The study also found reductions in the biological ages of the heart, hormone, liver, inflammatory, and metabolic systems in participants who followed the vegan diet for eight weeks, unlike those on the omnivorous diet. In addition, the participants on the vegan diet lost an average of two kilograms more than those on the omnivorous diet.
The study adds to the already plentiful literature supporting the benefits of a vegan, plant-based diet. Plant-based diets are superior in slowing the effects of aging including diseases through many mechanisms from high fiber content to richness in polyphenols to reduction in calories.
If you want to stay and feel younger, a vegan plant-based diet may be the way to go.
The study was published in the journal, BMC Medicine.
VN Dwaraka et al. Unveiling the epigenetic impact of vegan vs. omnivorous diets on aging: insights from the Twins Nutrition Study (TwiNS). BMC Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03513-w
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