Mediterranean and western diets differentially modulate cellular aging, oxidative stress, and inflammation in rats: a randomized control trial
Mediterranean diet protected telomeres and reduced inflammation in animal models, supporting human trials of this dietary pattern for aging.
In a rat RCT (n=21), 8-week Mediterranean diet intervention demonstrated significantly longer telomere lengths, reduced inflammatory markers (TNF-α), and preserved hippocampal cell counts compared to a Western diet, with omega-3 and resveratrol identified as protective dietary components. These preclinical findings support the telomere-protective hypothesis of Mediterranean dietary patterns but require human validation.
What the study was
- Study design
- Randomized controlled animal trial
- Population
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old)
- Sample size
- 21
- Category
- Prevention
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Why it surfaced
Animal study cap applied (≤5); mechanistically interesting telomere/diet findings; n=21 rats; human translation uncertain.
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