Yale researchers found that reducing calorie intake lowers levels of the immune protein C3, which may help mitigate age-related inflammation without requiring weight loss.
Key facts
- •The study analyzed plasma samples from 42 participants in the CALERIE clinical trial.
- •Researchers measured over 7,000 proteins to identify the impact of calorie restriction.
- •C3 is produced by age-associated macrophages located within white adipose tissue.
- •Inhibiting C3 in mice resulted in lower levels of age-related inflammation.
- •The research team is investigating whether FDA-approved drugs can suppress C3 to slow aging in humans.
A study published in Nature Aging suggests that the immune protein complement component 3 (C3) plays a key role in the aging process. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine found that moderate calorie restriction in humans leads to a significant decrease in C3 levels. This discovery offers a potential pathway to achieve the longevity benefits of calorie restriction without the negative side effects associated with severe dieting.
By the numbers
The Role of C3 in Aging
The research team analyzed plasma samples from 42 participants in the National Institutes of Health-funded CALERIE trial, where individuals reduced their calorie intake by 11% to 14% over two years. Among 7,000 proteins measured, C3 stood out due to its known association with chronic inflammation, a hallmark of aging and age-related diseases. The study identified that white adipose tissue, specifically age-associated macrophages within that tissue, is a primary source of C3 production.
Decoupling Benefits from Weight Loss
While study participants lost an average of 18 pounds, researchers found no direct correlation between the amount of weight lost and the decline in C3 levels. This indicates that the beneficial effects of calorie restriction on C3 are likely independent of weight loss. In experiments with mice, inhibiting C3 activation successfully reduced age-related inflammation, suggesting that targeting this protein could potentially mimic some anti-aging benefits without requiring caloric deprivation.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
