Hristio Boychev wrote in an article published today in the Washington Post that a new study refutes claims that low-calorie diets extend longevity.
“[H]opes [for increaased longevity through calorie restriction] are being dimmed by the results published Wednesday online by the journal Nature. The National Institute on Aging study, begun in 1987, involved rhesus monkeys, which are much closer to humans, both genetically and in average longevity, than previous test subjects.
“The scientists, led by Julie Mattison, were surprised to find that calorie restriction — the treated monkeys ate 30 percent fewer calories than those in the control group — didn’t affect life spans.
“It did confer some health benefits, reducing the incidence of cancer and diabetes. It slightly raised the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.”

