Effect of diet restriction on some biochemical parameters related to aging in mice.

The effects of chronic diet restriction in mice on some biochemical parameters related to aging have been investigated. Restriction of food intake to about one-half of the ad libitum consumption resulted in a significantly decreased growth rate immediately after weaning. In the experimental mice killed after different periods on a restricted diet up to 12 months, in vitro lipoperoxidation, the percent free activities of lysosomal enzymes and the accumulation of lipofuscins in tissues such as brain and heart were lower in comparison to those of the control animals. The superoxide dismutase activity in liver and brain did not show any consistent variations due to diet restrictions. These beneficial influences of decreased food intake on some free radical-mediated cellular damage may underlie its reported effects on longevity, in conformity with the free radical theory of aging.