The effect of energy restriction on biomarkers of aging and inflammation in rats

Excessive energy intake and subsequent obesity increase the incidence of chronic diseases and decrease life expectancy. Energy restriction, while considering adequate nutrient intake, decreases the risk of developing chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of energy restriction on biomarkers of longevity and inflammation in rats.

In this experimental study, 50 male wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups for 11 weeks: control (ad libitum diet), and energy restriction (40% energy restriction of baseline energy requirements). Weight, BMI, body temperature, and level of glucose, insulin, leptin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in serum were measured at the end of the study. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS (version 11.5) and independent t-test, at the significant level P<0.05.

Energy restriction decreased weight (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.001), body temperature (P=0.001), and also the serum level of glucose (P=0.035), insulin (P=0.021), IL-6 (P=0.045) and leptin (P=0.001) significantly, but no significant change happened in TNF-α (P=0.3).

Two biomarkers of longevity (fasting insulin level and body temperature) decreased due to energy restriction, which may be a sign of metabolic rate reduction. Moreover, efficacy of energy restriction in the reduction of inflammation biomarker (IL-6) indicates that ER can attenuate inflammatory process, which is a common risk factor for many chronic diseases.