New study reveals how going vegan for 8 weeks can turn back your biological clock!

New Delhi: A recent small-scale study suggests that adopting a vegan diet for eight weeks may reduce estimates of biological age. Biological age is crucial in assessing the risk of conditions like diabetes and dementia. Published in BMC Medicine, the research indicated that the observed age reduction was linked to DNA methylation levels, an epigenetic modification influencing gene expression without altering DNA itself.

Conducted as a randomised controlled trial with 21 pairs of adult identical twins, the study investigated the molecular impacts of short-term veganism. One half of each twin pair followed an omnivorous diet for eight weeks, including daily intake of meat (170-225 grams), an egg, and one and a half servings of dairy. The other half adhered to a vegan diet during the same period.

Results showed that participants on the vegan diet experienced reductions in epigenetic ageing clocks, whereas those on the omnivorous diet did not. People on a vegan diet also had decreases in the ages of the heart, hormone, liver, and inflammatory and metabolic systems. They also lost an average of two kilograms more than their omnivorous counterparts, likely due to differences in calorie intake.

The researchers emphasised that the findings warrant further investigation into the complex interplay among dietary composition, weight management, and the ageing process.

Agencies