Slow metabolism promotes longevity
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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An international group of scientists, after a series of studies, found that the development and aging of the body depends on the speed of the metabolic processes. The slower metabolism, the later comes old age. The person has the slowest metabolic process: even with the most intense activity, less energy is consumed than in any other mammal. The results of this work were published in one of the scientific journals.
Experts studied 17 species of monkeys that lived in zoos in the United States, and scientists analyzed the life of animals in the wild to determine how much energy is consumed by animals every day and determine how the pace of life affects the metabolic rate.
For these purposes, the researchers used a special technology without needles and various surgical procedures, which helped to track the production of carbon dioxide by the body. Using this technique, scientists measured the calories that burn primates for ten days. Further, the researchers established how many calories are burned by primates every day, and compared the results with the rate of energy expenditure in other mammalian species.
According to Herman Pontzer, who led the study, the results were very unexpected for his group. Chimpanzees, baboons and other primates consumed only 50% of calories, whereas scientists expected to see the norm of energy expenditure usual for mammals. As scientists note, the low level of calorie consumption is directly related to the rather leisurely way of life of primates. Also, experts added that rapid metabolic processes in the body accelerate development and aging, since, for growth, the body needs energy. Our pets (cats, hamsters, dogs) grow rather quickly and grow, but they have more old age and death, compared to a man. According to experts, the whole thing here is precisely the rate of metabolism, in primates and humans metabolism is slower than in other mammals, which is associated with long-term development and life expectancy.
During the study, the specialists also assumed that primates who live in captivity need to consume less energy, however, in reality it was not quite so. As the analysis showed, the primates living in the zoo, each day spent the same number of calories as their relatives living in natural conditions. With what exactly this is connected the scientists can not yet say definitely.
The research team is confident that the study will also help humanity, since the discovery of the mechanism of energy consumption will allow us to better understand the mechanism of human longevity. In addition, this discovery allows scientists to establish an existing link between activity and daily calorie consumption, which in turn will help researchers better understand the principle by which many diseases associated with metabolism develop, including. Obesity.
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