Scratchings-and-Sniffings

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More on the Health Benefits of Caloric Restriction Posted: 13 Oct 2009 06:52 AM PDT I've written several posts dealing with ground breaking work on the benefits of maintaining healthy weight in dogs and cats. This is one of my favorite topics because I followed the work Purina did in this area very closely during my tenure in St. Louis.  In short, we found that caloric restriction in dogs, as in other species, can extend healthy life. The onset of chronic diseases often associated with old age can be delayed significantly through caloric restriction. I've also written posts about new areas of research that examine what it is about caloric restriction that provides these life extending benefits. In fact, I use some of this research to justify my consumption of red wine as a source of resveratrol.   I came across a really interesting article recently that helps explain the life extending benefits of caloric restriction and how we might reproduce those benefits without depriving ourselves of ice cream and cake.   It has a lot to do with the mechanisms of cellular repair.   Whether we know it or not our bodies are in a constant state of recycling, reusing and rebuilding cells that make up the tissue in our bodies. There are specific organelles within cells called lysosomes that do most of the work. Think of a lysosome as the recycling center within the cell that, among other things, provides the building blocks for new cell components, aids in cell repair and helps remove substances that can cause problems if they accumulate within cells.   The interesting thing about lysosomes is that they get really active when animals cut back on caloric intake. When you don't supply the building blocks of tissue repair by eating, lysosomes take over and supply building materials through a process called autophagy. Autophagy literally means eating yourself and it is a crucial process all animals rely on when food is scarce.   In good times lysosomes provide an essential clean up function within cells. They digest old or damaged molecules and clean up clumps of accumulating protein. Without this lysosomal clean up function, cells no longer function properly and cell death can occur. In fact there are over 50 known diseases that result from poor or no lysosomal function. And now researchers believe that certain forms or cancer and diseases like Alzheimer's result from poor lysosomal function.   The link between caloric restriction and lysosome function is becoming clear. We know that caloric restriction extends healthy life. We know that caloric restriction increases lysosomal activity and keeps it at a high level. High lysosomal activity means that fewer defective and potentially disease causing cells survive and that protein plaques that impair cell function don't accumulate.Therefore, autophagy, stimulated by caloric restriction, may be the key to a longer, healthier life.   Unfortunately for old dogs, cats and aging veterinarians, autophagy declines with age. Fortunately, the same cell biologists that have uncovered these new findings about autophagy are also looking at ways to increase lysosomal activity. They have had some success, too. They have isolated a key protein involved in lysosome production and have been able to engineer cells to make more of this protein and more lysosomes. That could be really good news for those of us looking for ways to extend the healthy lives of our pets and ourselves.   As with all promising research we'll have to wait a few decades to see it in action. Until then, lets make sure to keep our pets on the lean side and keep their lysosomes functioning. For me, I guess I'll stick with my regimen of eating less and drinking more red wine.

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