During the session titled “The Secrets of Longevity — Unravelling the Science,” Dr. Saini explained that humans were not evolved to handle excessive sugar consumption.
Published Aug 06, 2024 | 10:52 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 06, 2024 | 11:35 AM
Dr Deepak Saini (second, right) speaking at the summit. (South First)
Restricting calorie intake is the only known evidence to extend human lifespan, Dr Deepak Saini, Professor at the Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics and Convenor of the Longevity Institute at IISc, has said.
Speaking at a session on The Secrets of Longevity — Unravelling the Science held as part of the inaugural Dakshin Healthcare Summit in Hyderabad, Dr Saini explained that humans have not evolved to handle excessive sugar consumption.
South First and TV9 Network jointly organised the summit.
“Nature has a very interesting design,” Dr Saini said. “It makes things we need in sufficient quantities easily available, while things we do not need in large quantities are more sparse or difficult to obtain,” he explained.
He cited the example of staple diets, wheat, and rice. “They are difficult to extract from the plant because they require de-husking and processing. In contrast, fruits and vegetables are easily accessible.”
“What we are now doing is consuming more of what nature did not design us to have in large amounts. It causes a metabolic shift from survival mode to excessive consumption,” the IISc professor pointed out.
Dr Saini elaborated on potential longevity therapies, stating, “Every molecule we have talked about—Metformin, Rapamycin—targets a central metabolic axis in our body. How we utilise sugar or calories, and how much protein, fat, and carbohydrates we need to consume to stay fit or live long, affects us significantly.”
“Our fundamental research shows that the only feature that improves the quality of organs is giving them less sugar. So, caloric restriction is the only known evidence for extending lifespan,” he said.
“The only known evidence for living longer is restricting calorie intake,” Dr Saini added.
Dr Saini raised a pertinent question: “Why are we so concerned about longevity? Is there an evolutionary angle for humans to live long? Our lifespan has remained relatively constant. People often ask why we don’t live as long as tortoises, which can live for over 200 years.”
Terming humans a “fascinating species” that is neither the strongest nor fastest, he said, “From an evolutionary perspective, the survival of the human race is almost miraculous.”
Dr Saini further explained the secret of human survival. “We survive because of our brains and our resilience. We have learnt to adapt to the possibility of no food tomorrow, or an abundance of food the next day,” he said.
The cycle of starvation and abundance shaped humans. “Over time, humans were selected for genes that make us resilient, enabling us to endure nutritional cycling to maximise survival. This means we were not evolved to have constant access to abundant food,” he explained.
“Ultimately, the current abundance of food is not what we were designed for. Our ancestors were adapted to cycles of feast and famine, and this historical context influences our current health and longevity. We are facing a mismatch between our evolutionary biology and modern nutrition,” he opined.
By reflecting on these evolutionary aspects, Dr Saini highlighted the importance of understanding our past to address contemporary issues related to health, diet, and longevity.
Dr Saini emphasised that humans have successfully fought off many infectious diseases, but the next big challenge is to live longer.
“From this perspective, it all comes back to how our bodies utilise the abundance of nutrition available to us. Longevity, in the long term, hinges on how we manage our metabolic health,” he said.
He explained that the quest for the perfect drug, molecule, or gene therapy revolves around a simple idea: Improving metabolism. “Metabolism is about how we use available resources efficiently and resiliently,” Dr Saini noted.
However, he acknowledged that many people believe that living in a way that prioritises longevity might not be fun. “Longevity is battling fun, and it’s not going to be easy,” he remarked.
Regarding gene therapy, Dr Saini pointed out that we are still far from a breakthrough. “Our bodies have numerous genes geared towards resilience, making us better human beings. Altering or improving one gene function is not a simple solution,” he explained.
He emphasised that improving the quality of life and extending the health span involved a multifactorial process.
“It involves enhancing your lifestyle, and nutritional intake, and providing support for what is missing in your body. This is where much of our fundamental research is focused,” he concluded.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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