What Makes Mice Live Longer When Eating Less?
The Impact of Aging, Calorie Restriction and Dietary Fat on Autophagy Markers and Mitochondrial Ultrastructure and Dynamics in Mouse Skeletal Muscle.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Saturated fat (lard) led to better mitochondrial health and longer life than unsaturated fats (soybean or fish oil) under calorie restriction.
This contradicts widespread nutritional guidance that unsaturated fats are healthier and that saturated fats should be limited, especially for longevity and heart health.
Practical Takeaways
If exploring calorie restriction for longevity, consider the type of fat in your diet — saturated fats might support muscle and mitochondrial health more than unsaturated fats, based on this mouse study.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Saturated fat (lard) led to better mitochondrial health and longer life than unsaturated fats (soybean or fish oil) under calorie restriction.
This contradicts widespread nutritional guidance that unsaturated fats are healthier and that saturated fats should be limited, especially for longevity and heart health.
Practical Takeaways
If exploring calorie restriction for longevity, consider the type of fat in your diet — saturated fats might support muscle and mitochondrial health more than unsaturated fats, based on this mouse study.
Publication
Journal
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Year
2018
Authors
Elena Gutiérrez-Casado, Husam Khraiwesh, J. López-Domínguez, Jesús Montero-Guisado, G. López-Lluch, P. Navas, R. de Cabo, J. Ramsey, J. González-Reyes, J. M. Villalba
Related Content
Claims (5)
Mice that eat fewer calories live longer, and among those on a low-calorie diet, the ones eating mostly lard seem to live the longest.
If you eat less food, having more saturated fats in your body might help you live longer.
In male mice on a severely reduced diet, the type of fat they eat matters — lard (like bacon fat) seems to keep their muscle cells healthier at a microscopic level better than vegetable or fish oils.
When older male mice eat fewer calories, they tend to keep healthier muscles and energy-producing parts inside their cells—especially if their diet includes a lot of saturated fat like from lard.
In male mice eating 40% fewer calories, the type of fat they eat matters — mice live longer on more saturated fats like lard than on unsaturated fats like soybean or fish oil.