A randomized clinical trial published in MedComm found that following a vegan diet for four weeks may lead to measurable changes in DNA methylation, a process that influences gene activity and is linked to long-term health.

The study included 48 healthy adults who first followed the same standardized diet for one week before being randomly assigned to either a vegan or meat-rich diet for four weeks. Both diets provided similar calorie levels, allowing researchers to examine the effects of dietary composition rather than weight loss.

After analyzing more than 800,000 DNA methylation sites, researchers observed several molecular changes among participants following the vegan diet. These included biological markers associated with lower inflammation, changes in immune regulation, and alterations in pathways related to insulin signaling, DNA repair, cellular stress, and cell growth.

Researchers also found changes in epigenetic aging markers, suggesting that the vegan diet may influence biological aging over the short study period. However, the findings do not establish that a vegan diet reverses aging or prevents age-related diseases.

Because the study was relatively small and lasted only one month, larger and longer-term clinical trials are needed to determine whether these molecular changes lead to lasting health benefits.

Overall, the research provides further evidence that diet can rapidly influence molecular and epigenetic processes associated with inflammation, healthy aging, and longevity.

Source: https://fox5sandiego.com/news/health/vegan-diet-slows-biological-aging/