Nature's intermittent fasting can make fruit flies live longer - is it useful for humans?

Whether intermittent fasting is called a 5:2 diet or a 16/8 diet, celebrities swear that these diets are a good way to lose weight

Scientists have also found that intermittent fasting has more health benefits, regardless of weight: studies on rats and other animals have shown that intermittent fasting can also extend lifespan

But for those who want to take intermittent fasting to slow down the aging process, there is a problem

Can the benefits of fasting be packaged in pills? A new study by Columbia University researchers on fasting fruit flies suggests that the answer may be yes

This study, published in the journal Nature on September 29, reveals how intermittent fasting can delay aging in cells (at least for fruit flies), and points out how to get it without hunger Potential ways to fast for health

Intermittent fasting and limited time intake usually restrict food to specific times of the day, rather than total caloric intake

Dr.

Shirasu Hiza and Dr.

The researchers arranged the fruit flies in one of four different schedules: a.

Of the four diet plans, only iTRF significantly extended lifespan-18% for females and 13% for males

The timing of the 20-hour fast is critical: only fruit flies that fast at night and break the fast at lunch will live longer

For researchers, the role of time is an important clue about the relationship between fasting and longevity

Shirasu Hiza said: "We found that the life-prolonging benefits of iTRF require a functional circadian rhythm and autophagy components

iTRF not only prolongs the lifespan of fruit flies, the diet regimen also improves the "healthy period" of fruit flies, increases muscle and neuron function, reduces age-related protein aggregation, and delays the development of aging markers in muscle and intestinal tissues.

Human cells use the same cell cleansing process, so this discovery increases the possibility that behavioral changes or drugs that stimulate the cleansing process can provide people with similar health benefits, delay age-related diseases and extend lifespan

"Any form of restricted diet is difficult," he said

Original Search: Circadian Autophagy Drives iTRF-mediated Longevity .