A study published in BioMed Central (BMC) Medicine found that adopting a vegan diet for eight weeks was linked to a reduction in biological age.
The research, conducted by Stanford University in the US, explored the molecular effects of a plant-based diet, which excludes animal products and primarily consists of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and nuts.
The researchers discovered that this diet was associated with changes in gene expression through a process called DNA methylation, which can "turn off" or "silence" genes without altering the DNA itself. Higher levels of DNA methylation are linked to a higher biological age, affecting gene behaviour by modifying its environment.
The study followed 21 pairs of adult identical twins for eight weeks. One twin in each pair consumed an omnivorous diet, including meat, eggs, and dairy, while the other followed a vegan diet. Identical twins share a significant amount of their genetic makeup, providing a controlled comparison. The participants, on average, were 40 years old and had a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight category, with about 77 percent being women. After eight weeks, the researchers observed a 'younger' heart, liver, inflammatory, and metabolic system among the participants on the vegan diet. These changes were not seen in those consuming the omnivorous diet. However, the authors noted that it was unclear to what extent these changes could be attributed solely to their diets. On average, individuals on the vegan diet lost two kilograms more than those on the omnivorous diet, suggesting that weight loss could have contributed to the reduction in biological age in the vegan group.
