{"id":103,"date":"2013-05-13T01:51:53","date_gmt":"2013-05-13T01:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshmitteldorf.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=103"},"modified":"2013-05-13T15:32:49","modified_gmt":"2013-05-13T15:32:49","slug":"could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/","title":{"rendered":"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eating less helps you live longer, but eating less is hard. \u00a0One line of experiment suggests that eating less of just one protein component<\/em>, methionine, is sufficient to extend life span, perhaps as effectively as though less calories were being consumed. \u00a0It\u2019s an intriguing idea, though the research is fraught with contradictions, and to separate methionine from other protein components is not easy or cheap.<\/em><\/p>\n

It was first reported in\u00a01993<\/a>\u00a0that rats subjected to a diet restricted in methionine (MR) enjoyed comparable life spans to rats that were on caloric restriction (CR). \u00a0In the first experiments, methionine was reduced to \u2155 its normal level in the diet, and growth of the rats was severely stunted.<\/p>\n

What is methionine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Proteins are the workhorse chemicals of the body, macromolecules consisting of folded chains of sometimes tens of thousands of amino acid molecules strung together. \u00a0There are 20 amino acids to choose from*, and the particular sequence of amino acids in the chain determines how the protein will fold up (\u201ctertiary structure\u201d), and thus what shape it will have, and how it will function in the body.<\/p>\n

When we eat protein, it is \u201csomeone else\u2019s\u201d long chain protein molecules that we ingest. \u00a0The particular form that the protein takes was useful to the plant or animal that we\u2019ve eaten, but not to us, so our digestion breaks down the protein into the component amino acids, and then rebuilds the protein chains we need from these \u201crecycled\u201d pieces. \u00a0Of the 20 amino acids, our bodies rely exclusively on the foods we eat to get 8 of them, the \u201ceight essential amino acids\u201d made famous by Frances Moore Lapp\u00e9<\/a>\u00a040 years ago. \u00a0The other 12 we can manufacture for ourselves.<\/p>\n

Methionine is one of these eight essential amino acids, and one of just two that include the element sulfur.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/b>Costs and Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Various rodents fed on a low-methionine diet have been observed to live longer. \u00a0In some of these experiments, food intake was strictly controlled to assure that the MR animals and the controls received the same total calories.\u00a0[ref<\/a>]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/b>Oxidative damage from the mitochondria is a hallmark of aging, and this has been noted to decrease reliably with methionine restriction. \u00a0[ref<\/a>] \u00a0The authors of this article \u201cconclude that methionine is the only dietary factor responsible for the decrease in mitochondrial ROS production and oxidative stress, and likely for part of the longevity extension effect, occurring in CR.\u201d \u00a0In other words, the only reason that caloric restriction extends life span is that the body gets less methionine in the process. This may be an extreme, if tenable position. \u00a0I don’t believe that an experiment has yet been done in which rodents are fed a diet that is both high in methionine and low in calories.<\/p>\n

Methionine restriction lowers cancer rates, and has been proposed as a cancer treatment, logically enough since it limits cell growth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Start Codon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a clue about why methionine is special. \u00a0The instructions for making proteins is coded into DNA, via the genetic code, which specifies words of 3 DNA letters, each corresponding to one of the 20 amino acids. \u00a0The genetic code also contains \u201cpunctuation\u201d, instructions to start and stop. \u00a0The \u201cstart codon\u201d is also the word for methionine. \u00a0Every chain of amino acids that the body constructs begins with methionine.<\/p>\n

No methionine – no protein synthesis. \u00a0A shortage of methionine means that the body is inhibited in making every kind of protein. \u00a0I remarked a few months back<\/a>\u00a0that more genes are expressed (more proteins synthesized) as the body grows older. \u00a0Perhaps methionine restriction is putting a brake on this production of extra proteins that are not produced when we\u2019re young, and that contribute to aging.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/b>Paradoxes<\/strong><\/p>\n

SAMe<\/a>\u00a0is a supplement I take. \u00a0The \u201cMe\u201d in SAMe is for \u201cmethionine\u201d, which is part of the chemical formula. \u00a0SAMe promotes methylation of DNA, which decreases gene expression, which (theoretically) extends life by a similar mechanism to methionine restriction. \u00a0Go figure.\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Methionine is a necessary ingredient for the body to synthesize glutathione, \u201cthe mother of all anti-oxidants<\/a>”\u00a0and a longevity factor. \u00a0And yet, less methionine has been associated<\/a>\u00a0with more glutathione.<\/p>\n

\n

Toward a Practical Diet<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

We can\u2019t live entirely without methionine – the body would not be able to make any proteins at all. \u00a0Restricting methionine is likely to have impacts on growth, health, and wellbeing that are as yet unstudied in humans. \u00a0\u201crats fed a diet without methionine developed steatohepatitis (fatty liver), anemia and lost two thirds of their body weight over 5 weeks.\u201d \u00a0(Wikipediia<\/a>)\u00a0In one experiment<\/a>\u00a0where methionine was severely restricted but not eliminated entirely, \u2155 of the mice died, and the other \u2158 went on to live longer than control mice.<\/p>\n

A separate issue is how to accomplish methionine restriction in practice. \u00a0Proteins that we eat consist of chains of amino acids with all 20 mixed in. \u00a0Even if you chew your food very carefully, you can’t just spit out the methionine and swallow the other 19. \u00a0So methionine restriction in practice involves eating foods that are low in methionine. \u00a0Though all protein has methionine, some protein sources are much lower in methionine than others. \u00a0I compiled the following table from data available at USDA Nutirtion refrence site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Food (100g)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

% Methionine<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Calories<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

fat g<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

carb g<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

protein g<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

cal fr fat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

cal fr carb<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

cal fr protein<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Frozen Peas<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.47%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9.02<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.37%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

67.93%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.70%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Almonds 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.86%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

597<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

52.83<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.29<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22.09<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

74.22%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12.18%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13.60%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Lentils<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.93%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

116<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9.02<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.84%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

67.62%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.54%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Mung Beans<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.05%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

105<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.02<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.15%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

71.35%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Split peas<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.07%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

118<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.34<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.88%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

70.10%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.02%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Peanuts 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.22%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

585<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.66<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21.51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23.68<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

70.26%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15.06%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14.68%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tofu 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.32%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

145<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.72<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.27<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15.78<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38.37%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31.21%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30.43%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Chick Peas 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.36%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

164<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.59<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.86<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.77%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38.09%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

37.14%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Walnuts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

654<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

65.21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13.71<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15.23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

83.55%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.90%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.55%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Black beans<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.59%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

130<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.35%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

73.56%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.09%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Cashews<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.60%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

576<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46.35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

32.69<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15.31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

68.41%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21.69%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9.90%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Broccoli 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.61%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.41<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.88<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16.25%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

42.40%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

41.34%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Wheat Gluten 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.65%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

370<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.85<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13.79<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

75.16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.70%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.27%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

48.04%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Boiled peas<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.91%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

84<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15.63<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.36<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.29%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

73.22%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.48%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Wheat Germ 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.01%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

382<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23.39%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

48.73%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.88%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2% Milk 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.39%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.97<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.68<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

40.21%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30.27%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.52%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Roast Beef<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.68%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

163<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.59<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.02%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.00%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

75.98%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Chicken<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.72%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

300<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.97<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.95<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

64.84%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.00%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35.16%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Eggs<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.95%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

142<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.76<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12.53<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

62.93%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.17%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

34.90%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Salmon 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.07%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

182<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.44<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26.47%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

37.23%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36.30%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tuna<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.07%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

139<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.97<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.00%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

91.50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Sardines 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.07%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

208<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11.45<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.62<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

34.38%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33.23%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

32.39%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Egg white 100g<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.39%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.73<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.22%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.22%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

90.56%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Brazil nuts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

656<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

66.43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12.27<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14.32<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

84.93%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.05%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.02%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

You can see that all animal sources (including milk and especially eggs) are high in methionine. \u00a0So an MR diet is a vegan diet, not just any vegan diet, but a subset of vegan protein sources. \u00a0There appear to be no general rules. \u00a0For example, almonds are a good source of low-methionine protein, but Brazil nuts are terrible. \u00a0Lentils are first-rate, soy beans not so good, and wheat germ is poison.<\/p>\n

The table also makes clear that even a strict vegan diet (free of Brazil nuts) would only reduce methionine intake by about 1\/2. \u00a0Extrapolating from the rodent experiments, we may need to reduce by ~ 3\/4 before crossing a threshold where benefits kick in.<\/p>\n

(Note incidentally that CR is not like this. \u00a0There is no threshold for caloric restriction. \u00a0Eating less increases life span quite smoothly. \u00a0You get a little benefit from eating a little less, and a lot of benefit from eating a lot less.)<\/p>\n

A long shot idea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Glycine is the simplest of the 20 amino acids. \u00a0(It is literally just an amine group linked to an acid group, NH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>COOH.) \u00a0\u00a0It was reported<\/a>\u00a0at an experimental biology conference two years ago\u00a0<\/b>that increasing glycine has similar effects to decreasing methionine in the diet, showing life extension and some of the same metabolic benefits in rats. \u00a0To my knowledge, this has not yet been written up in a peer-reviewed journal. \u00a0I\u2019ve written to the author, and will add a comment below this post if I hear anything.<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bottom line<\/strong><\/p>\n

The number of experiments that have been done with methionine restriction is tiny compared to caloric restriction.\u00a0 There is no data at all, that I am aware of, for humans on a methionine-restricted diet. \u00a0It’s an intriguing idea, and I’m guessing that more study of methionine restriction will yield interesting insights into aging. \u00a0I don’t think we know enough \u00a0yet to consider adopting MR as an aid to long-term health, especially since severe restriction is likely to have side-effects, and mild restriction is is likely to be ineffective.\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

_______
\n*not to be confused with the nucleic acids that make up DNA. \u00a0There are only 4 of those.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eating less helps you live longer, but eating less is hard. \u00a0One line of experiment suggests that eating less of just one protein component, methionine, is sufficient to extend life span, perhaps as effectively as though less calories were being consumed. \u00a0It\u2019s an intriguing idea, though the research is fraught with contradictions, and to separate … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nCould cutting this one nutrient make you live longer? - Josh Mitteldorf<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eating less helps you live longer, but eating less is hard. \u00a0One line of experiment suggests that eating less of just one protein component, methionine, is sufficient to extend life span, perhaps as effectively as though less calories were being consumed. \u00a0It\u2019s an intriguing idea, though the research is fraught with contradictions, and to separate ... Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Josh Mitteldorf\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-05-13T01:51:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2013-05-13T15:32:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Josh Mitteldorf\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Josh Mitteldorf\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1\"},\"headline\":\"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-05-13T01:51:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2013-05-13T15:32:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1302,\"commentCount\":27,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2013\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/\",\"name\":\"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer? - Josh Mitteldorf\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2013-05-13T01:51:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2013-05-13T15:32:49+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/13\\\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\",\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"description\":\"Aging Matters\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/1058476001.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/1058476001.jpg\",\"width\":864,\"height\":363,\"caption\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1\",\"name\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Josh Mitteldorf\"},\"description\":\"Josh Mitteldorf studies evolutionary theory of aging using computer simulations. The surprising fact that our bodies are genetically programmed to age and to die offers an enormous opportunity for medical intervention. It may be that therapies to slow the progress of aging need not repair or regenerate anything, but only need to interfere with an existing program of self-destruction. Mitteldorf has taught a weekly yoga class for thirty years. He is an advocate for vigorous self care, including exercise, meditation and caloric restriction. After earning a PhD in astrophysicist, Mitteldorf moved to evolutionary biology as a primary field in 1996. He has taught at Harvard, Berkeley, Bryn Mawr, LaSalle and Temple University. He is presently affiliated with MIT as a visiting scholar. In private life, Mitteldorf is an advocate for election integrity as well as public health. He is an avid amateur musician, playing piano in chamber groups, French horn in community orchestras. His two daughters are among the first children adopted from China in the mid-1980s. Much to the surprise of evolutionary biologists, genetic experiments indicate that aging has been selected as an adaptation for its own sake. This poses a conundrum: the impact of aging on individual fitness is wholly negative, so aging must be regarded as a kind of evolutionary altruism. Unlike other forms of evolutionary altruism, aging offers benefits to the community that are weak, and not well focussed on near kin of the altruist. This makes the mechanism challenging to understand and to model. more at http:\\\/\\\/mathforum.org\\\/~josh\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/AgingAdvice.org\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/author\\\/joshmitteldorf\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer? - Josh Mitteldorf","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?","og_description":"Eating less helps you live longer, but eating less is hard. \u00a0One line of experiment suggests that eating less of just one protein component, methionine, is sufficient to extend life span, perhaps as effectively as though less calories were being consumed. \u00a0It\u2019s an intriguing idea, though the research is fraught with contradictions, and to separate ... Read more","og_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/","og_site_name":"Josh Mitteldorf","article_published_time":"2013-05-13T01:51:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2013-05-13T15:32:49+00:00","author":"Josh Mitteldorf","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Josh Mitteldorf","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/"},"author":{"name":"Josh Mitteldorf","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/person\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1"},"headline":"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?","datePublished":"2013-05-13T01:51:53+00:00","dateModified":"2013-05-13T15:32:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/"},"wordCount":1302,"commentCount":27,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2013","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/","name":"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer? - Josh Mitteldorf","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#website"},"datePublished":"2013-05-13T01:51:53+00:00","dateModified":"2013-05-13T15:32:49+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/2013\/05\/13\/could-cutting-this-one-nutrient-make-you-live-longer\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Could cutting this one nutrient make you live longer?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#website","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/","name":"Josh Mitteldorf","description":"Aging Matters","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#organization","name":"Josh Mitteldorf","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/1058476001.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/1058476001.jpg","width":864,"height":363,"caption":"Josh Mitteldorf"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/#\/schema\/person\/214c5d1dad9f15c48f03128d5cfccdb1","name":"Josh Mitteldorf","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d3a8498f3d727156673030716d233edc57840f110d501b1b523e1780e9043b92?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Josh Mitteldorf"},"description":"Josh Mitteldorf studies evolutionary theory of aging using computer simulations. The surprising fact that our bodies are genetically programmed to age and to die offers an enormous opportunity for medical intervention. It may be that therapies to slow the progress of aging need not repair or regenerate anything, but only need to interfere with an existing program of self-destruction. Mitteldorf has taught a weekly yoga class for thirty years. He is an advocate for vigorous self care, including exercise, meditation and caloric restriction. After earning a PhD in astrophysicist, Mitteldorf moved to evolutionary biology as a primary field in 1996. He has taught at Harvard, Berkeley, Bryn Mawr, LaSalle and Temple University. He is presently affiliated with MIT as a visiting scholar. In private life, Mitteldorf is an advocate for election integrity as well as public health. He is an avid amateur musician, playing piano in chamber groups, French horn in community orchestras. His two daughters are among the first children adopted from China in the mid-1980s. Much to the surprise of evolutionary biologists, genetic experiments indicate that aging has been selected as an adaptation for its own sake. This poses a conundrum: the impact of aging on individual fitness is wholly negative, so aging must be regarded as a kind of evolutionary altruism. Unlike other forms of evolutionary altruism, aging offers benefits to the community that are weak, and not well focussed on near kin of the altruist. This makes the mechanism challenging to understand and to model. more at http:\/\/mathforum.org\/~josh","sameAs":["http:\/\/AgingAdvice.org"],"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/author\/joshmitteldorf\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgtN8h-1F","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/joshmitteldorf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}