A recent study provides strong evidence suggesting that individuals who eat a diet abundant in whole plant foods may experience slower aging compared to those consuming animal products and highly processed foods. This pioneering research compared the impact of a healthful vegan diet against a balanced diet with meat on the aging process, as gauged by DNA methylation analysis. The study’s methodology, which involved twin pairs, automatically controlled for genetics, age variations, and gender differences.
The study included 22 pairs of identical twins who were assigned to different diets to examine the effects over an eight-week period. One twin from each pair was randomized to follow a healthy vegan diet, while their counterpart adhered to a healthy omnivorous diet, allowing researchers to directly compare how these dietary choices influenced their biological age.
For their analysis, the researchers employed four established methylation clocks and calculated the individual ages of 11 organs and systems, as well as their collective age, termed “Systems Age.” At the conclusion of the study, three of these clocks indicated a noticeable reduction in age acceleration among the vegan group, a change not observed in the omnivorous group. Additionally, significant reductions in biological age were observed exclusively within the vegan cohort in 5 of the 11 systems, as well as in the overall Systems Age.
The study also found that a vegan diet improved epigenetic markers linked to aging. These markers act like hidden clocks within your genes, suggesting that while you may be forty years old chronologically, your biological age can vary due to lifestyle influences such as diet and exercise. Rather than relying on a single measure to determine biological age through epigenetics, the researchers utilized various tests to assess these clocks. The vegan group experienced a significant decrease, while the omnivorous group showed no change.
This study was limited by its small sample size and brief duration. Further research over an extended period would be valuable to better understand the long-term effects of a vegan diet on epigenetic markers. Despite these limitations, the findings align with increasing evidence that a well-planned vegan diet can offer substantial health benefits and bolster support for plant-based eating.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Unveiling the epigenetic impact of vegan vs. omnivorous diets on aging: insights from the Twins Nutrition Study (TwiNS)
