Caloric restriction slows down the accumulation of mutations in DNA

Calorie restriction was able to slow down the accumulation of age-related mutations in the DNA of several organs of mice. This was reported by scientists whose work was published in the journal Cell.

The researchers studied mice that received 30 percent fewer calories than animals with free access to food. Using high-precision sequencing, scientists analyzed mutations in different tissues and assessed changes in a large part of the genome. As we age, such mutations naturally accumulate in cells, and some of them can disrupt gene function and contribute to the development of cancer and other diseases.

Calorie restriction reduced the incidence of several types of genetic changes, including insertions and deletions of genetic material. The effect was strongest in liver cells, while in the kidneys and brain the decrease in the number of mutations was less pronounced. In the liver and kidneys, particularly noticeable changes were found in the least active regions of the genome.

The authors believe that the results may help to understand how nutrition affects the aging process at the DNA level. However, the work was done on mice, and reducing caloric intake by 30 percent may be too harsh and potentially unsafe an approach for humans.