Research
Energy balance
Calorie or protein restriction slows aging and reduces cancer rates in rodents by enhancing maintenance functions, including DNA repair and antioxidant defenses, thereby reducing oxidative damage.
While direct long-term human trials are lacking, evidence from rodents suggests that moderate calorie or protein restriction may slow aging and reduce cancer risk by improving the body's ability to repair DNA and fight oxidative stress. This should be done carefully and ideally under guidance.
GoodSupportsMEDIUM confidence
In rodents a calorie-restricted diet significantly increases lifespan, decreases reproduction, and markedly decreases cancer rates... the overall effect of these enhanced maintenance activities appears to be a reduction in oxidative damage to DNA and protein.
Why this rating
Strong evidence in rodents, but extrapolation to humans is suggested rather than proven by direct long-term trials.
Source
Oxidants, antioxidants, and the degenerative diseases of aging.
B N Ames et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 1993
DOI 10.1073/pnas.90.17.7915
narrative_reviewCited 5,971×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Low dietary intake of fruits and vegetables doubles the risk of most types of cancer and markedly increases the risk of heart disease and cataracts due to insufficient antioxidant defense against endogenous oxidative damage.Good
- Smoking significantly increases oxidative stress, depletes antioxidants, and doubles the risk of oxidative DNA damage in sperm, leading to increased risk of birth defects and childhood cancer in offspring.Good
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →