Health span extension by later-life caloric or dietary restriction: a view based on rodent studies.

In spite of the potential benefit of lifelong food restriction to retard aging and extend life span, it is unrealistic in human. The restriction late in life may be more practical. There are, however, only limited studies on the effect of late onset caloric or dietary restriction. We and other investigators have shown that the late life restriction rejuvenates some parameters that decline with age in rats and mice. Although such studies may provide a basis for human application of late-life caloric or dietary restriction, the prolongation of maximum life span would not be expected in view of the current status of the long-lived population in which maximum life span potential appears to have already been achieved. The late life caloric restriction, however, could extend the health span if the extent were appropriate.