Prolonged fasting times reap greater geroprotective effects when combined with caloric restriction in adult female mice

Emerging new evidence highlights the importance of prolonged daily fasting periods for the health and survival benefits of calorie restriction (CR) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) in male mice; however, little is known about the impact of these feeding regimens in females. We placed 14-month-old female mice on five different dietary regimens, either CR or TRF with different feeding windows, and determined the effects of these regimens on physiological responses, progression of neoplasms and inflammatory diseases, serum metabolite levels, and lifespan. Compared with TRF feeding, CR elicited a robust systemic response, as it relates to energetics and healthspan metrics, a unique serum metabolomics signature in overnight fasted animals, and was associated with an increase in lifespan. These results indicate that daytime (rest-phase) feeding with prolonged fasting periods initiated late in life confer greater benefits when combined with imposed lower energy intake.

Automated summary

Emerging evidence suggests that prolonged fasting periods combined with calorie restriction (CR) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) have important health and survival benefits for male mice, but little is known about the effects of these feeding regimens in females. In this study, 14-month-old female mice were placed on five different dietary regimens, either CR or TRF with different feeding windows. The results showed that CR elicited a strong systemic response, unique serum metabolomics signature, and increased lifespan. These findings highlight the importance of daytime feeding with prolonged fasting periods initiated late in life for females.