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In this study,
Labrador retrievers raised on a lower-calorie diet not only
lived longer than their littermates, but also avoided common
canine diseases longer than heavier dogs.
What other research
has been done on this topic?
Calorie restriction
on everything from yeast to rodents shows that less calories
aids longevity. This study is different in that it studied
calorie restriction in a mammal - research done with rhesus
monkeys has also suggested that low-calorie diets can delay
chronic diseases.
What other benefits
did the low-calorie diet provide?
Throughout much
of their adult lives, the calorie-restricted dogs also had
less body fat and lower levels of certain blood fats, blood
sugar and the sugar-regulating hormone insulin. In humans,
these traits are also related to a lower risk of major disorders
like diabetes and heart disease.
Journal
of the American Veterinary Medical Association September 2002;220:1315-1320
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