Could diet help extend the reproductive clock? New research suggests that moderate caloric restriction might help delay ovarian aging, at least in primates.
In a study published in Aging-US, researchers from Northwestern University found that a three-year, 30% reduction in calorie intake helped preserve ovarian function in rhesus macaques, whose reproductive biology closely mirrors that of humans. While the total number of ovarian follicles still declined with age, monkeys on a reduced-calorie diet maintained more of the younger, more viable follicles associated with reproductive potential.
“Overall, CR may improve aspects of reproductive longevity in the NHP, but the timing of when it occurs during the reproductive lifespan is likely critical,” the authors wrote.
The study also found structural benefits. Normally, aging ovaries show signs of fibrosis, a stiffening of tissue caused by excess collagen and loss of hyaluronic acid. Caloric restriction reduced this stiffening, suggesting a more favorable environment for fertility and hormone production.
The benefits were most evident in older monkeys who still had irregular cycles, rather than those who had completely stopped cycling, highlighting the importance of timing.
These findings, the researchers note, are an important step toward identifying lifestyle-based strategies to extend reproductive longevity.
Though more research is needed in humans, the results align with other studies on caloric restriction’s role in supporting cellular and hormonal health. For women concerned about fertility later in life, this research adds to growing evidence that what and when we eat could influence reproductive aging.
This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and other scientific grant programs, including funding for work at the Oregon National Primate Research Center.