Better eye health and lifespan expectancy linked to restrictive diets, study reveals

07 Jun 2022 --- A study published in Nature Communications by the Buck Institute for research on aging has revealed a relationship between dietary restrictions, eye health, circadian rhythms and prolonged lifespan expectancy.

These synergies were demonstrated in a study on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The findings evidence the potential benefits of particular lifestyle choices, such as intermittent fasting.

“We are now showing that not only does fasting improve eyesight, but the eye actually plays a role in influencing lifespan,” says Pankaj Kapahi, professor and senior author at the Buck Institute.

When following a restrictive diet, the flies showed higher life expectancy and increased eye health.Surprising correlation
The study aimed to clarify dietary changes and their effect on circadian processes in the body, while further investigating how lifespan expectancy can be improved through a restrictive diet.

The flies were found to be protected from the lifespan-shortening effects of photoreceptor activation – when photoreceptor proteins in the eye cell absorb photons, triggering a change in the cell’s membrane potential – when they were on a restrictive diet. 

On the contrary, photoreceptor inactivation – achieved when housing flies in constant darkness – was found to extend the lifespan of flies reared on a high-nutrient diet.

The study piqued the researchers’ curiosity regarding the extent to which dietary restrictions impact circadian function among humans, and if it can be helpful for healthy neuronal function throughout life and aging.

It has been previously proven that there is a correlation between eye disorders and poor health in humans. In the newly published study, the authors argue that there is more to this outcome, as dysfunction of the eyes can also lead to dysfunctions in other tissues.

Life-extending benefits of restrictive dieting
Intermittent fasting has been in the spotlight of trending restrictive diets. Focusing on when to eat rather than what to eat, it is considered more as an eating pattern rather than a diet. Earlier research has shown that it contributes to improved glucose regulation, stress resistance and has anti-inflammatory effects.

Previous research has evidenced how reducing the intake of calories and fatty acids to a limited amount of hours per day decreases the speed of cancerous growth

Other studies have shown health benefits such as lower blood pressure and more stable insulin levels.

Edited by Beatrice Wihlander