< Back

A Ketogenic Diet Extends Longevity and Healthspan in Adult Mice.

Roberts, Megan N.; Wallace, Marita A.; Tomilov, Alexey A.; Zhou, Zeyu; Marcotte, George R.; Tran, Dianna; Perez, Gabriella; Gutierrez-Casado, Elena; Koike, Shinichiro; Knotts, Trina A.; Imai, Denise M.; Griffey, Stephen M.; Kim, Kyoungmi; Hagopian, Kevork; McMackin, Marissa Z.; Haj, Fawaz G.; Baar, Keith; Cortopassi, Gino A.; Ramsey, Jon J.; Lopez-Dominguez, Jose Alberto

Date Published:

Publication:

DOI:

URL:

PMID:

Extra Links:

September 5, 2017

10.1016/j.cmet.2017.08.005

PMID: 28877457 PMCID: PMC5609489

Abstract:

Calorie restriction, without malnutrition, has been shown to increase lifespan and is associated with a shift away from glycolysis toward beta-oxidation. The objective of this study was to mimic this metabolic shift using low-carbohydrate diets and to determine the influence of these diets on longevity and healthspan in mice. C57BL/6 mice were assigned to a ketogenic, low-carbohydrate, or control diet at 12 months of age and were either allowed to live their natural lifespan or tested for physiological function after 1 or 14 months of dietary intervention. The ketogenic diet (KD) significantly increased median lifespan and survival compared to controls. In aged mice, only those consuming a KD displayed preservation of physiological function. The KD increased protein acetylation levels and regulated mTORC1 signaling in a tissue-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that a KD extends longevity and healthspan in mice.