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Keto diet accelerated organ aging in mice due to increased senescent cells

Switching the mice back to a standard diet reduced the damage

17-May-2024

Key points from article :

In a study published in Science Advances, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center investigated the effects of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet on mice.

The mice on the keto diet showed a significant increase in senescent cells, which are damaged cells that contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

These senescent cells accumulated in multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain, suggesting a potential acceleration of organ aging due to the diet.

However, when the mice were switched back to a standard diet, the levels of senescent cells decreased, indicating the effect may be reversible.

These findings suggest that while the keto diet may be beneficial for some, it may not be suitable for everyone and long-term use could pose health risks.

Further research is needed to understand how these results translate to humans and to determine the optimal duration and frequency of ketogenic diets for safe and effective use.

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Science Advances

Journal that publishes original research and reviews in all disciplines of science

Topics mentioned on this page:
Diet and Nutrition, Senescent Cells
Keto diet accelerated organ aging in mice due to increased senescent cells