Can the benefits of Calorie Restriction and Periodic Fasting be transferred from mice to humans?

What is it about?

In recent years, nutrition has attracted attention and interest from the scientific community, as it has emerged as a fundamental player in improving lifespan and healthspan by preventing non-communicable ageing-related diseases. Preclinical studies have shown that caloric restriction and periodic fasting extend the lifespan in animal models, prevent tumorigenesis, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapies. This review provides the current state of knowledge on the benefits of calorie restriction and periodic fasting on tumor development and ageing in a rodent model and summarizes the clinical progress with calorie restriction and periodic fasting in clinical trials. We also discuss the numerous caveats that might arise with the implementation of these dietary interventions in clinical practice.

Featured Image

Photo by Pavel Subbotin on Unsplash

Photo by Pavel Subbotin on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Research conducted on preclinical models has produced encouraging findings that have improved fundamental research comprehension of the mechanisms responsible for the onset and progression of age-related illnesses. Despite the very promising outcomes obtained from preclinical studies, there are substantial obstacles to transferring these dietary interventions to human subjects owing to the significant physiological and metabolic differences between rodents and humans. It is crucial to acknowledge the constraints of preclinical research and difficulties in applying such diets to human subjects.

Perspectives