Low-calorie diet keeps heart young

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A study by Washington University School of Medicine says calorie restriction appears to prevent primary aging in the heart.

Researchers studying heart function in members of an organization called the Caloric Restriction Society found that their hearts functioned like the hearts of much younger people.

The findings are reported in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Members of the Caloric Restriction Optimal Nutrition Society try to consume between 10 and 25 percent fewer calories than the average diet while still maintaining proper nutrition.

The researchers studied 25 people who had voluntarily been consuming 1,400 to 2,000 calories a day for an average of six years.

Ultrasound examinations showed that their hearts appeared more elastic and were able to relax between beats in a way similar to the hearts in younger people.

Principal investigator Dr. Luigi Fontana said most study subjects had family members who suffered heart attacks or strokes, making it unlikely that their genetic makeup is a contributor to the unusual healthiness of their hearts.