Why eating less slows ageing
The gut bacteria make lithocholic acid, a bile component that helps digest fat. It can also extend the lifespan of some animals. In a study researchers found, in mice, that levels of the acid rise during calorie restriction and that it activates a protein called AMPK — which scientists have already linked to the health benefits of eating less. When the team fed lithocholic acid to nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), the animals lived significantly longer than those not given it. There is no evidence yet that taking lithocholic acid would have the same effect in humans — and at high doses, it could be toxic.
Reference
Nature: Why Eating Less Slows Ageing
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