A Single Hormone That Can Help Increase Lifespan Has Been Identified in Mice

The health and lifespans of rodents, fruit flies, and yeast appear to be improved by a low-protein diet.

A hormone that is essential for anti-aging effects has been identified by a new study.

fibroblast growth factor 21 is a hormone that is produced in the body.

In recent years, studies have shown that FGF21 can be used to improve energy expenditure and reduce body weight in male mice.

FGF21 is required for the anti-aging effects.

The authors write that mice that are deficient in FGF21 exhibit early-onset weight loss, increased frailty, and reduced lifespan when fed a low-protein diet.

The pro-longevity effects of restriction are dependent on a single hormone that is present in humans.

The role of FGF21 in our own species is not known, but studies show that a diet high in carbohydrates and low in calories can help with metabolism. The circulating FGF21 is impacted by these macronutrients.

Scientists are learning more about the role this hormone plays in the body.

When male mice had their FGF21 gene knocked out and were fed a low-protein diet, their natural lifespan was reduced compared to normal mice fed the same diet.

The mice without the FGF21 gene grew up to be larger and less lean. They had completely lost their tolerance for sugar. These mice began to lose weight much earlier than those with their FGF21 genes intact.

Researchers say the adult mice that produced FGF21 looked healthier and more physically robust on a long-term low-protein diet. Their coats were not as bad as the mice's.

The findings suggest that the FGF21 signaling pathway is involved in the reduction of frailty in normal mice as they age.

FGF21 has a lot of roles, but is known to regulate sugar intake, and the way this hormone responds to certain macronutrients has an impact on the brain.

The authors of the previous research have shown that a long-term low-protein diet increases FGF21 activity in the mouse brain, which leads people to choose foods with less fat and more calories.

Our data suggests that FGF21 talks to the brain and that the mouse doesn't know it is eating a low-protein diet. Christopher Morrison from Louisiana State University explains that the mouse fails to change its metabolism or feeding behavior as a result.

The findings offer a possible explanation for why mice live longer. The study only focused on male animals. Female mice may respond differently to a similar diet.

The study is the first to identify a single hormone that controls the effects of a low-protein diet.

Nature Communications published the study.