less calorie=slower aging?

The DNA theory of again has given rise to the belief that calorie decrease can slow down the aging process. There have been a number of ideas that have brought this idea forward:

• Studies in animals have revealed that calorie restriction is linked to an increased lifespan
• It is believed that calorie restriction requires lower levels of metabolism, therefore leading to lower levels of reactive oxygen species being generated. Hence, there is decreased damage to mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA.
• Calorie restriction leads to decreased DNA replication and consequently lower chances of mutations that can develop into cancer.
• Decreased cellular proliferation, because of calorie restriction, leads to increased rates of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, especially of pre-neoplastic cells. This again entails a reduced cancer risk.
• The level of stress imposed by calorie restriction activates certain proteins which are capable of activating DNA repair enzymes. This has the effect of stabilizing the DNA, and without these proteins DNA is prone to damage.