Researchers from USC conducted a study on a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) and found that it could reduce biological age, improve immune system aging, and lower risk factors for diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
The FMD involves cycles of a low-calorie diet for five days followed by normal eating, showing significant health benefits.
“I think it is surprising that three cycles of the FMD done for only five days a month (15 days total) — which allow people to have modified/low calorie but regular meals and without changing the normal diet of the participants for the rest of the month — can have such an effect on biological age, body fat and a range of disease risk factors,” senior author Valter Longo, USC Leonard Davis School Professor stated.
“However, these are only simulations — and additional studies are necessary to confirm this potential of the FMD cycles,” he added.
The diet, designed to mimic a fast while providing essential nutrients, could potentially reduce biological age by 11 years if followed for 20 years.
While the diet has shown promising results, further research is needed to confirm its long-term effects on a larger and more diverse population.
“The fasting-mimicking diet (FMD), also known as the ProLon Diet, has been around for approximately seven years and has been studied in multiple clinical trials,” Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, said.
“By following a structured, very low-calorie nutrition plan for five days, the goal is to provide the benefits of a prolonged fast while still allowing individuals to eat,” added Palinski-Wade.
“The diet is designed to transition the body into a fasting state while nourishing it with specific nutrients to avoid activating food-sensing pathways.”
“I think it is important to begin to consider the plant-based FMD intervention described here for two to three times a year as a way to prevent and treat some diseases, together with the right type of drugs,” Longo said.
This could aid in “returning to full health and living longer and healthier, rather than continuing to take progressively more drugs as we age,” he added.
“Our society’s fascination with youth and longevity is well-known; however, measuring progress and biological improvements is often subjective,” Atlanta-based health influencer Melanie Avalon said.
“The concept of ‘chronological age’ can mislead when assessing the body’s aging rate and predicting lifespan,” Avalon said.
“For the first time, this study reveals that a fasting-mimicking diet can reduce one’s biological age.”
“It allows for physical, biological and epigenetic benefits without the need for prolonged water-only fasts,” she said.
“In an era obsessed with superficial youth and quick fixes, the fasting-mimicking diet offers a tangible method to systematically reverse aging and enhance metabolic health,” she said.
“Unlike the costly and extreme measures of ‘biohacking,’ the FMD provides an accessible and practical solution to reduce biological age,” she added.
“Restricting and changing eating patterns may have negative effects,” registered dietitian nutritionist Tanya Freirich said.
“A very low-calorie diet may not be appropriate for those with uncontrolled diabetes, a history of hypoglycemia, a history of disordered eating, or those who are pregnant or nursing,” Palinski-Wade said.
“While changing the timing and amount of our food intake is an approach worth examining, it is also important to remember to choose health-promoting foods daily,” Freirich said.
“The food choices we make daily have a large impact on our weight, blood sugars, heart health, immune system and more. If fasting doesn’t feel like the right choice for you, speaking with a registered dietitian about the dietary changes for your health is always recommended.”
“It was a small sample size of healthy young-ish individuals,” Freirich said. “The results may be helpful and useful for other people after more research is completed in a larger age range and including people with other medical concerns.”
“FMD may offer promising benefits and may be an excellent tool to consider for those looking to improve long-term health and reduce future disease risk, but more research is needed on larger and more diverse populations to fully understand the benefits it may offer,” Palinski-Wade added.
