Dietary restriction, longevity and aging

Dietary restriction (DR) often increases longevity and it may improve aging in rodents. Up to now, studies in non-human primates, which are carried out for 25 years, have not shown positive effects on longevity. Studies in human beings are also underway. This article argues that positive effects of dietary restriction on human longevity are not expected and results on the Okinawa diet seem to confirm this hypothesis. Moreover, dietary restriction can entail risky outcomes for health. However, as positive effects on healthspan in obese people have been reported, studies of DR should focus on obesity, rather than to look for not very probable positive effects of DR on longevity and aging. © 2011 Société française de nutrition. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.