Switching to a vegan diet for just one month could begin changing the body by slowing biological ageing and lowering inflammation, according to new research
Scientists from the University of California San Diego and the University of Freiburg found that participants who followed a vegan diet for four weeks developed changes in DNA methylation, a process that helps control how genes are switched on and off, that were associated with healthier immune function and slower biological ageing
The findings of the study add to growing evidence that dietary choices can influence health surprisingly quickly
ADVERTISEMENT
How a vegan diet changed the body in just four weeks
The randomised clinical trial involved 48 healthy adults. After eating the same plant-based diet for a week, participants were randomly assigned to either a vegan diet or a meat-rich diet for four weeks
Both groups consumed similar numbers of calories, allowing researchers to focus on the effects of the foods themselves rather than <a href="https://healthylife7.com/eli-lilly-stock-soars-on-strong-demand-for-weight-loss-drugs/" title="Eli Lilly stock soars on strong demand for weight loss drugs”>weight loss
After analysing more than 800,000 DNA methylation sites across the genome, researchers found those following the vegan diet showed changes linked to reduced inflammation and healthier immune function
Specifically, the vegan group was predicted to have fewer neutrophils (immune cells that can drive inflammation when present in high numbers), alongside higher levels of CD4 T cells, which help regulate immune responses
The researchers also found changes affecting pathways involved in lipid metabolism, insulin signalling, DNA repair and cellular stress responses
Perhaps the most striking finding came when the team measured participants’ biological age using so-called epigenetic clocks – tools that estimate biological ageing from DNA methylation patterns rather than chronological age
Two of the clocks suggested biological ageing slowed during the four-week vegan intervention, although a third clock measuring chronological ageing showed no significant change
A healthy plant-based diet may do more than support everyday wellbeing as new research suggests it could also influence biological processes linked to ageing and inflammation. Photo © Vladislav Noseek
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Our genes are not our destiny’
Co-senior author Dr Jerome Mertens, associate professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said in a statement that: “Our genes are not our destiny. The remarkable finding isn’t simply that one diet outperformed another
“It’s that the epigenome responded measurably in just four weeks, showing that our biology is far more dynamic – and responsive to everyday choices – than we often assume.”
The researchers stress that the study was relatively small and only lasted one month, meaning larger, longer-term trials will be needed to determine whether these molecular changes translate into a lower risk of diseases such as cancer or heart disease
Co-senior author Dr Max Storz, from the University of Freiburg Medical Center, said the findings nevertheless provide “an important foundation” for understanding how diet influences long-term health
Researchers say the study provides an important foundation for understanding how everyday dietary choices can influence the biological processes linked to ageing and disease. Photo © Raul Mellado
ADVERTISEMENT
The power of a plant-based diet
While the latest research doesn’t prove a vegan diet can prevent disease or reverse ageing, it adds to a growing body of evidence linking plant-based eating with better long-term health
Earlier this year, researchers reported that plant-based diets can help reduce markers of inflammation, while previous research from Stanford University found that eight weeks on a vegan diet reduced biological age estimates in identical twins
Large observational studies have also consistently linked diets rich in fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes and nuts (and lower in red and processed meat) with healthier ageing and a lower risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers
Looking for budget-friendly meals that pack in protein and fibre? You’ll love these delicious vegan bean recipes
Vegan Food & Living may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only ever share brands that we love and trust
