Macronutrient balance and lifespan.
Dietary restriction (DR) without malnutrition is widely regarded to be a universal mechanism for prolonging lifespan. It is generally believed that the benefits of DR arise from eating fewer calories (termed caloric restriction, CR). Here we argue that, rather than calories, the key determinant of the relationship between diet and longevity is the balance of protein to non-protein energy ingested. This ratio affects not only lifespan, but also total energy intake, metabolism, immunity and the likelihood of developing obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Among various possible mechanisms linking macronutrient balance to lifespan, the nexus between the TOR and AMPK signaling pathways is emerging as a central coordinator.
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. stephen.simpson@bio.usyd.edu.au
Stephen J
SJ
Simpson
David
D
Raubenheimer
D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; C416303:target of rapamycin protein, Drosophila; C523914:AMPKalpha protein, Drosophila; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases