A Review of the Impact of Calorie Restriction on Stem Cell Potency
TLDR Eating fewer calories improves the ability of stem cells to repair and renew the body in various tissues.
Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to extend lifespan and reduce age-related pathologies by influencing stem cell potency in mammals. The review analyzed literature from databases such as NCBI, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PubMed, focusing on CR's effects on pluripotency. Findings indicate that CR acts as an anti-inflammatory in skeletal muscle, enhancing regeneration by increasing satellite cells and shifting metabolism towards oxidation. In the intestinal epithelium, CR suppresses mTORC1 signalling in Paneth cells, favoring stem cell self-renewal over differentiation. CR also maintains or prevents the deterioration of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in mice, with effects varying based on genetic differences. Additionally, in skin and hair follicles, CR contributes to increased epidermal thickness, hair growth, and hair retention through stem cell enhancement. Overall, CR promotes stem cell proliferation and self-renewal across various tissues, improving their regenerative capacity.
