Low calorie diet checks weight, boosts immunityApril 30th, 2010
- 12:40 pm ICT by IANS Washington, April 30 (IANS) A low-calorie
diet not only checks weight but also boosts immunity, according
to a recent study. The study led by Simin Nikbin Meydani,
director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center
on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston, demonstrates the
interaction between calorie restriction and immune markers among
humans. As people age, their immune response generally declines.
Calorie restriction has been shown to boost these immune
responses in animal models. The study is part of the
“Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing
Intake of Energy” trial conducted at the HNRCA. In the study, 46
overweight (but not obese) men and women aged 20 to 40 years
were required to consume either a 30 percent or 10 percent
calorie-restricted diet for six months. Prior to being randomly
assigned to one of the two groups, each volunteer participated
in an initial six-week period dur