Consuming low-calorie foods can have a protective effect against some diseases since the number of calories that a person directly influences in the performance of several cells, researchers say.
The study on mice has shown that a low calorie diet can protect the brain from neuronal cell death associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy and stroke (CVA).
"We are seeing how changes in diet affect metabolism and how it ends up changing the likelihood of having diseases associated with aging," said co-author, Alicia Kowaltowski, professor at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.
For the study, presented at FAPESP Week London, which will take place between February 11 and 13, the research team divided the mice into two groups.
They calculated the average amount of calories that the group without caloric restrictions ate and then nurtured the other group 40 percent less calories.
After 14 weeks, mice belonging to both groups received an injection containing a substance known to cause seizures, damage, and neuronal cell death.
The researchers found that while those in the group that did not have dietary restrictions had convulsions, those whose calories were restricted did not.
–IANS