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Others say the effects in humans would not be as strong as in mice even if people did it all their lives and did it properly. Jay Phelan, an evolutionary biologist at UCLA, says that men in Okinawa eat almost 20% less their entire life than other Japanese men but live less than a year longer.
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COMPLETELY FALSE. The okinawans were only MILDLY Calorie Restricted for half their adult lives untill the 1960s. Why were they only mildly CR'd? Because their heights are on average far less than the average westerner, so they need to consume fewer calories. Average calorie consumption has increased significantly. Also CR beneficial gene expression changes can be reversed in a matter of weeks of increasing calories. Okinawans are now consuming almost 2000 k/cal... and they're tiny (and getting fat)
Please mutant, put it to rest already, J. Phelan has been misinformed.
Willcox DC, Willcox BJ, Todoriki H, Curb JD, Suzuki M.
Caloric restriction and human longevity: what can we learn from the
Okinawans?
Biogerontology. 2006 Jun 30; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 16810568
http://tinyurl.com/zposa
... older Okinawans, who appear to have undergone a mild form of
prolonged CR for about half their adult lives. ... Caloric (or dietary)
restriction (CR) ... The question of whether or not CR would work in humans
may be one of the most significant unanswered questions in biogerontology.
... CR not only will work but in fact available epidemiological evidence
indicates that CR may already have contributed to an extension of average
and maximum life span in one human population and appears to have lowered
risk for age associated chronic diseases in other human populations. We
review the human studies in the context of a special human population that
we believe has undergone prolonged CR while also maintaining a high quality
diet-a necessary condition for CR to manifest its beneficial effects. ...
concentrate on long term human studies (Heilbronn and Ravussin 2003; Masoro
2005; Dirks and Leeuwenburgh 2006). ... (Fontana et al. 2004). ... (Meyer
et al. 2006). A key question is whether or not these systemic changes are
reflective of a more youthful physiology and will enhance health and
lifespan if continued over a longer time period. ... Baltimore Longitudinal
Study of Aging (BLSA) ... noted that healthy men who displayed three
"biomarkers of the CR phenotype"-lower insulin levels, lower body
temperature and a slower decline in levels of the hormone
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) also had significantly longer
survival (Roth et al. 2002). ... Honolulu Heart Program cohort where blood
glucose in middle age strongly predicts late life survival (Rodriguez et al.
1999).
... Only one long-term epidemiological prospective study (>30 years) has
directly addressed the issue of caloric intake and human longevity. This
36-year follow-up study reported a weak trend for lower allcause mortality
in healthy non-smoking Japanese-American men suggesting that those who
consumed a modestly low energy intake (85% of group mean) had the lowest
risk for all-cause mortality [ The pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/ggvhp
paper] . There was higher mortality risk when caloric intake dropped below
50% of the group mean. This is consistent with previous animal findings that
show decreased risk for mortality from age associated diseases and increased
life span under a CR regimen of up to 50% restriction. ... Low caloric
intake was first reported in the Okinawan population by Hokama et al. (1967)
who showed that Okinawan school children consumed only 62% of the calories
of other Japanese school children. Kagawa (1978) confirmed low caloric
intake (83% of Japan average) in the Okinawa adult population from the 1972
Japan National Nutrition Survey and documented anthropometric and morbidity
data from older Okinawans that were consistent with CR. Kagawa (1978)
hypothesized that this may have been partly responsible for the long and
healthy lives of Okinawans. Death rates from heart disease, cancer and
cerebral vascular disease were found to be only 60 to 70% of that of the
Japan average and the all-cause mortality rate for 60-64 year olds was only
half that of other Japanese. A later study published by Chan et al. (1997)
also reported dietary and phenotypic data in Okinawan septuagenarians and
centenarians consistent with CR.
Our recent analysis of long-term trends in whole population caloric
intake and energy balance for the years beginning in 1949 demonstrates that
the
Okinawan septuagenarian population appeared to be in a relative "energy
deficit" consistent with CR until the late 1960s, eating approximately 11%
fewer calories (approximately 1,785 kcal per day) than would normally be
recommended for maintenance of body weight according to the Harris-Benedict
equation (Willcox et al. Unpublished data). The body mass index (BMI) of
adult Okinawans also remained stable at a very lean 21 kg/m2 and peak body
weight was reached in young adulthood and appeared relatively stable until
elderly ages (Willcox et al. Unpublished data). These dietary and
anthropometric data are consistent with adaptation to a long-term energy
deficit and fit proposed epidemiologic definitions by a recent US National
Institutes of Health panel (see Lee et al. 2001) of the human CR phenotype
(i.e. no weight gain after early adulthood).
Moreover, nutritional studies suggest that the traditional Okinawan
diet, with its high intake of green leafy and yellow root vegetables, sweet
potatoes as a dietary staple, and soy as a principle protein supplemented by
small amounts of fish and meat, was adequate in most nutrients and
particularly high in antioxidant vitamins [not pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/ffa3u etc].
Was there a CR effect? ... If a CR phenomenon occurred for the current
generation of elderly Okinawans then there should be biomarker evidence of
CR-linked delayed physiological aging. Thus, it is of keen interest that
recent findings from our ongoing study of Okinawa's elderly population show
that Okinawan septuagenarians, who would have undergone CR until at least
middle age according to the previous population data, exhibit higher DHEA
levels when compared to age-matched Americans not subjected to CR (Willcox
et al. Unpublished data). In addition, if delayed aging occurred in
Okinawans, then there should be a rightward shift in the survival curve,
with increases in both average lifespan and maximum lifespan. Indeed,
survival curves for Okinawan, Japanese and U.S. populations calculated based
on life table data for the year 1995 do show increases in both average and
maximum lifespan in the Okinawan population compared to Japanese and
American populations, consistent with CR. Average lifespan (measured as 50th
percentile survival) and maximum lifespan (measured as 99th percentile
survival) in the Okinawan, Japanese and U.S. populations were 83.8 and 104.9
years, 82.3 and 101.1 years, and 78.9 and 101.3 years, respectively (Willcox
et al. Unpublished data).
Finally, age-adjusted mortality for specific age-related diseases
(especially cardiovascular diseases) is extremely low in elderly Okinawans
compared to other age-matched Japanese or Americans [not pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/ffa3u etc] . Thus, life expectancy at older ages is
extremely long in Okinawa. For the septuagenarian cohort, life expectancy
from age 65 is the longest in Japan, and possibly the world, at 24.1 years
for females and 18.5 years for males (Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare, 2005). This compares to 22.5 years and 17.6 years for the same
birth cohort in mainland Japan (Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
2000) and 19.3 years and 16.2 years for corresponding U.S. birth cohorts of
females and males respectively (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention 2003). Also consistent with a longer life expectancy at older
ages is the high numbers of centenarians at approximately 50 per 100,000 or
about 4-5 times the average for most industrialized countries (Japan
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare 2005).
Other factors may also be contributing to the exceptional longevity of
the Okinawans such as genetic factors, specific nutritional components of
the diet (high anti-oxidants), social support and/or health care [not
pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/ffa3u , pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/ebjwt etc] . However, the forces of morbidity and
mortality act most strongly at older ages and it is at these ages one would
expect to see the most marked phenotypic differences and the most marked
survival advantage, had CR occurred in the Okinawans, and indeed this is the
case.
Should we restrict our calories? ... Some scientists who study the
mechanisms of aging suggest that it is unlikely that the maximum lifespan of
humans can be extended by any intervention, including caloric restriction
(Hayflick 2004). It has also been argued that while CR is likely to be
almost universal in its beneficial effects on longevity, the benefit to
humans is likely to be small, even if humans restrict their caloric intake
substantially and over long periods of time (Phelan and Rose 2005). The
latter argument derives from observations of complex differences between
species (such as amount of energy allocated to reproduction) and the fact
that underlying physiological mechanisms that determine longevity are not
necessarily the same between species. Furthermore, there are potential
health concerns, particularly if practiced incorrectly (too severe) or at
vulnerable (too young, too old, pregnancy) life stages ([not pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/fvy5l etc]
While fully acknowledging that the nature of the life-extending action
of CR may differ among species, we believe these views to be overly
pessimistic and not reflective of the available evidence. However, we
believe that people should not attempt to restrict calories to the extreme
levels seen in animal studies (up to 60%) because human studies, although
promising, have not fully addressed issues such as quality of life and other
potential side effects. With that caveat in mind, cautious approaches to
lowering calories (mild CR) among adults while maintaining optimal nutrient
intakes would still likely result in significant health benefits. In fact,
recent findings show that even 8% CR has beneficial effects on specific
biochemical and inflammatory biomarkers [not pdf-available
http://tinyurl.com/fvy5l ]
We cite the following reasons for a more optimistic view of the
potential benefits of the CR lifestyle for human beings: ... accumulated
evidence of 70 years of CR studies ... (from yeast to mammals). As such, it
would be unusual if it did not work in some positive capacity in humans as
well. Second, studies in progress with non-human primates (who share over
95% of our genes and have similar reproductive physiology) on a CR regimen,
while not yet conclusive, are showing early results consistent with previous
animal data. Third, short-term and longer-term studies of humans under a
true CR paradigm have shown dramatic changes in physiology and metabolic
shifts similar to other animals. Fourth, our research shows that older
Okinawans (ages-65 plus) exhibit a CR-like phenotype and ate a low calorie
diet over a prolonged period of time. Calories in the Okinawan population
were approximately 11% fewer than what would usually be recommended for
their body weight and activity levels (based on the Harris-Benedict
equation)
but only for half their adult lives.
Yet, even with this mild CR-like regimen older Okinawans have gained an
additional 6% survival time from age 65 (1.3 years) versus other Japanese
and an additional 20% survival time (3.6 years) versus Americans. Given the
large number of factors that influence human lifespan, this is also
surprisingly similar to the gain in lifespan observed in prior animal
studies (i.e. 10-20% calorie reduction leads to a 10-20% increase in
lifespan). Most importantly, the
Okinawans appear to have gained an
increased health span, with almost a decade of disability-free life
expectancy beyond what typical Western populations experience.
Lastly, while Okinawans were not consciously practicing CR, they did
develop cultural habits that led to the kind of prudent food choices that
maximize nutritional properties of foods while minimizing caloric density as
would be the favored strategy for anyone who attempts a CR regimen. Simply
avoiding calorie-dense refined sugars, saturated fats and processed foods
and replacing them with nutrient-dense but calorie poor vegetables, fruits
and legumes will not only likely lead to spontaneous weight loss through
lower caloric intake but would also result in a vastly increased intake of
health-enhancing phytonutrients, including key vitamins and minerals,
antioxidants and flavonoids. Practicing a little restraint at the dinner
table may also have its benefits. "Eat until you are 80% full" (or hara
hachi-bu) is the advice that Okinawan grandmothers have given for years and
the science of CR appears to be proving that the wisdom of the elders still
rings as true as ever.
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He's extrapolated these data to what would be expected if people ate 35% less for their entire life. He found it would only extend the average lifespan by about 2 years.
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You know those Seventh day adventist have an almost 10 year extension of lifespan, and are not CR'd at all? 2 years from life long CR !
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Phelan says he doesn't think there will ever be a way to significantly extend human life span. "Millions of years and billions of people living a variety of lifestyles that result in life spans that never exceed 122 demonstrate that it is unlikely that some new method will dramatically extend this," he says.
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Not really to say much about this to be honest. Calment was an extreme outlier. The maximum lifespan for humans its probably around 100-110 years. There are so many people on earth that 'genetics' is almost certainly going enable someone to live a lifespan like that of a CR'd organism. Youthful for longer and free of most disease. CR may not not push 122, phelan doesn't know and neither do any of us. But 2 years in average lifespan from lifelong CR? That is ridiculous assumption based on misinformation.
Linear Mode
