Author information: (1)Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC - 182) Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78284, USA. Exercise and caloric restriction are two important, nonpharmacological tools against body mass increase. In other studies, calorie restriction has been shown to reduce the aging of the immune system in rats. Calorie restriction does, however, change more or less everything there is to be measured in cellular metabolism, so it is certainly possible that other mechanisms are relevant. Influence of caloric restriction on aging immune system. Pahlavani@uthscsa.edu The tests have only been done on rodents and monkeys and it is still not certain that humans would tolerate such dieting restrictions. The immune system: a double-edged sword. The immune system has been shown to change by calorie restriction, although no information is available about possible effects in 24 h variations. In this context, researchers here present evidence to show that, at least in flies, the defense against infection mounted by the innate immune system is enhanced by short term calorie restriction. Immune senescence is a natural consequence of aging and may contribute to frailty and loss of homeostasis in later life. The researchers also examined effects of calorie restriction on function of T-cells--a major type of white blood cell--and other factors on the volunteer's immune system. Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and impaired immune response. Our bodies are constantly under attack by bacteria, viruses and parasites trying to get in. Scientists have found a way to keep out immune systems young and healthy by putting us on the restriction diet. Caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to inhibit inflammatory response and enhance cell-mediated immune function. As the size of adipocytes increases during obesity, the establishment of resident immune cells in adipose tissue becomes an important source of proinflammatory mediators. The research reveals significantly different immune responses can be generated depending on the type of fasting studied, suggesting not all fasting diets are created equal. The immune system has been shown to change by calorie restriction, although no information is available about possible effects in 24 h variations. Pahlavani MA(1). An extremely low-calorie diet slows the aging of the immune system in an elderly population of rhesus monkeys, according to research at the National Institute on Aging.

Perhaps surprisingly, researchers recently discovered that calorie restriction helps the key defender of our bodies: the immune system. Calorie restriction (CR) is one of the most potent broadly acting dietary interventions for inducing weight loss and for inhibiting cancer in experimental models. And calorie restriction has also been shown to increase the life span of yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, and spiders.

Calorie restriction increases healthy life-span in C57BL/6J (but not DBA/2J) mice, but whether this is related to preservation of immune function, and how it interacts with aging, is unclear. This same benefit may also hold true for monkeys, the researchers said. Introducing the diet could extend life by about 30%.