Health
Yale study finds calorie restriction lowers C3 protein linked to age-related inflammation
Analysis of a two-year human trial shows that cutting calories reduces C3 levels independently of weight loss, opening potential paths to anti-aging therapies.
The short version
- Researchers at Yale School of Medicine found that moderate calorie restriction in humans significantly reduced levels of complement component 3 (C3), an immune protein tied to chronic inflammation.
- The reduction in C3 occurred in human plasma samples independent of the amount of weight lost, with fat tissue identified as a primary source of the protein.
- Inhibiting C3 activation with a drug reduced age-related inflammation in mice, prompting researchers to explore whether existing FDA-approved drugs could safely suppress C3 in humans.
Key facts
- In a study published in Nature Aging, Yale researchers analyzed plasma samples from 42 human participants in the NIH-funded CALERIE trial who reduced calorie intake by 11% to 14% over two years.[ScienceDaily]
- The study found that levels of complement component 3 (C3) dropped significantly following calorie restriction, and the decline was not correlated with the amount of weight lost.[ScienceDaily]
- White adipose tissue and age-associated macrophages within it were identified as major sources of C3 production.[ScienceDaily]
- Pharmacological inhibition of C3 activation reduced age-related inflammation in laboratory mice.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown whether suppressing C3 in humans can slow aging processes without undermining the immune system's ability to fight infections.[ScienceDaily]
- Researchers have not yet determined whether existing FDA-approved inhibitor drugs can effectively or safely replicate these outcomes in human clinical applications.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
- Scientists may have found a shortcut to calorie restriction’s anti-aging benefitsScienceDaily - Science