London: A vegetarian diet could be the key to
a long life, a new study said.
Reducing consumption of a specific protein found in fish,
meat and certain nuts could slow the ageing process and
increase life expectancy, according to the research.
British researchers carried out a series of experiments
on fruit flies and discovered that simply varying the mix of
amino acids in the diet affected lifespan.
The study further found that one particular amino acid,
methionine, made all the difference, The Telegraph reported.
Methionine is essential to the formation of all proteins.
It is naturally abundant in foods such as fish and meats as
well as sesame seeds, Brazil nuts and wheat germ.
Although flies and people are very different, the
researchers believe the effects are likely to be conserved
throughout a wide range of different species including humans.
The team is of the opinion that by reducing foods that
contain the protein, people should live longer without the
need to cut down on meals.
The key to long life is reduction in specific protein
and not the total number of calories, the study said.
Humans have around four times more genes than the fruit
fly, but both share many similar genes with basic biological
functions.
Therefore, even though the fruit fly does not on the
surface resemble humans, many findings about its basic biology
can be extrapolated to humans.
Dr Matthew Piper, from the Institute of Healthy Ageing at
University College London, said, "This work was done on flies
but similar results have been found in mice. If it turns it
has the same effect on humans, then the message is avoid high
levels of methionine."
"It's not as simple as saying 'eat less nuts' or 'eat
more nuts' to live longer - it's about getting the protein
balance right, a factor that might be particularly important
for high protein diets, such as the Atkins diet or body
builders' protein supplements," Piper said.
Earlier studies have revealed that reducing calories by
as much as 30 per cent could reduce risks of developing heart
disease or cancer by half and increase lifetimes by nearly a
third.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 03, 2009, 21:35