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Yale’s Vishwa Deep Dixit explores diet’s role in aging
His study found reduced inflammation protein tied to aging, suggesting new path to extend healthy lifespan
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Staff Reporter - Sat, 25, Apr 2026
- 02:47 EDT
- 72
Vishwa Deep Dixit / Yale University Website
Indian American Vishwa Deep Dixit, PhD, senior author of a new study published April 13 in the journal Nature Aging, led research showing that moderate calorie restriction in humans reduces a key immune protein linked to chronic inflammation and aging.
The study, conducted at Yale School of Medicine, analyzed plasma samples from 42 participants enrolled in a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial known as the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy, or CALERIE. The two-year trial examined the effects of sustained calorie reduction in generally healthy adults.
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Participants reduced their calorie intake by about 11% to 14% over the study period. Researchers identified more than 7,000 proteins in blood samples collected over time. Among them, levels of complement component 3, or C3, an immune-related protein associated with inflammation, declined significantly after calorie restriction.
Previous research has shown that calorie restriction can extend lifespan in animals such as mice, rhesus monkeys, and fruit flies. However, severe restriction can lead to harmful effects, including increased susceptibility to infections and impaired growth. The new findings focus on moderate restriction and its biological effects in humans.
The study also examined where C3 is produced in the body. Researchers identified white adipose tissue, or body fat, as a primary source. Further analysis showed that age-related increases in C3 were linked to specific immune cells called macrophages within fat tissue.
Animal studies conducted alongside the human trial supported the findings. In mice, C3 levels rose with age, particularly in visceral fat. When researchers used a drug to inhibit C3 activity, the animals showed reduced age-related inflammation.
The study found no direct correlation between weight loss and reduced C3 levels, despite participants losing an average of about 18 pounds. This suggests the effect of calorie restriction on inflammation may be independent of weight loss.
The findings point to C3 as a potential target for therapies aimed at slowing age-related inflammation and improving health span. Researchers are now exploring whether existing drugs that inhibit C3 could replicate the effects observed in the study.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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