Japanese Study Links Daily Yogurt Intake to Slower Aging
A 12-week study in Japan found that the biological aging rate of older men slowed by 2.2% when they consumed plain yogurt daily alongside diet and exercise advice.
A recent study conducted in Japan and published in the journal Aging suggests a link between daily yogurt consumption and a slower rate of biological aging. The 12-week clinical trial involved 48 overweight Japanese men aged 50 to 74.
Participants in the intervention group consumed 100 grams of plain yogurt containing the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum BB536 daily. This group also received dietary counseling and instructions for moderate exercise. The control group maintained their usual lifestyle habits.
Using the DunedinPACE measurement tool, researchers observed a statistically significant reduction in the pace of aging among the yogurt consumers compared to the control group. This slowdown averaged 2.2% and occurred independently of weight loss or changes in BMI.
The study also noted improvements in a DNA marker associated with kidney function. Researchers indicated that the observed anti-aging benefit may be a result of the combined effect of probiotics, diet, and exercise, rather than a single factor. Further, larger, and longer-term trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Funding for the research was provided by Morinaga Milk Industry, a Tokyo-based dairy company that developed the BB536 probiotic strain used in the study.