Review of dietary restriction, DR mimetics and aging in mammals
This abstract reviews mammalian evidence on dietary restriction and aging, including proposed DR mimetics, adaptations such as fasting and fat loss, possible harms, and preclinical work on age-related diseases. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review focuses on mammalian findings when testing dietary restriction paradigms in aging. [1]
Potential DR mimetics discussed modulate pathways including autophagy, FGF21, AMPK, mTORC1, NAD metabolism, sirtuins and GLP-1R. [1]
Preclinical evidence is discussed for whether DR may improve healthspan and treat, prevent or delay age-related diseases. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Review abstract
- Population / context
- Mammals in reviewed dietary restriction research
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- March 6, 2026
Review scope: mammalian dietary restriction and aging
The authors review evidence testing various dietary restriction (DR) paradigms in the context of aging, focusing on findings in mammals. They note that humans have practiced different types of DR for religious and medical purposes for millennia, while scientific study at cellular and molecular levels has grown mainly over the past three decades.
Supporting source [1]
Proposed DR mimetics and reported adaptations
The review discusses potential DR mimetics that modulate autophagy, FGF21, AMPK, mTORC1, NAD metabolism, sirtuins, GLP-1R and other pathways. It also covers organismal and cellular adaptations to DR, including the roles of fasting, hunger, changes in body temperature and fat loss.
Supporting source [1]
Possible harms and preclinical disease evidence
The authors consider potential negative effects of DR, such as increased vulnerability to infections and impaired wound healing. They also discuss preclinical evidence on whether DR might improve healthspan and treat, prevent or delay age-related diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegeneration, and they note future translation opportunities and challenges.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no study design details, sample sizes, follow-up or effect estimates, and the disease evidence described is preclinical.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Schmauck-Medina T, Lautrup S, Di Francesco A, Mitchell SJ, Clemmensen C, Partridge L, Roth GS, Anderson RM, Mattison JA, de Cabo R, Speakman JR, Richardson A, Ingram DK, Weindruch R, Mattson MP, Fang EF. · europepmc.org · March 6, 2026