Vegan diet may promote slow aging

A study in *BMC Medicine* examined the impact of vegan versus omnivorous diets on epigenetic aging. Although medical advances have extended life expectancy, age-related diseases and rising healthcare costs remain significant challenges.

Geroscience seeks to slow aging through lifestyle changes, including diet. While diet’s influence on aging is studied, the specific epigenetic effects remain unclear. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, regulate gene expression.

The study involved 21 twin pairs assigned to a vegan or omnivorous diet for eight weeks. The vegan group showed reduced epigenetic age metrics and improvements in inflammation and metabolic health, with no significant changes in telomere length or overall mitotic clock values. This suggests short-term benefits of a vegan diet on epigenetic health. However, further research is needed to assess long-term effects.