MN. Roberts, MA. Wallace, AA. Tomilov, Z. Zhou, GR. Marcotte, D. Tran, G. Perez, E. Gutierrez-Casado, S. Koike, TA. Knotts, DM. Imai, SM. Griffey, K. Kim, K. Hagopian, MZ. McMackin, FG. Haj, K. Baar, GA. Cortopassi, JJ. Ramsey, et al. (2017). A Ketogenic Diet Extends Longevity and Healthspan in Adult Mice. Cell metabolism, 26(3), 539-546.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2017.08.005

PubMed 28877457

[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.