Body fat distribution with long-term dietary restriction in adult male rhesus macaques

Dietary restriction (DR) is the only intervention that has been shown to in crease average and median life span in laboratory rodents. The effect of lo ng-term, moderate DR on body composition and fat distribution was evaluated in male rhesus monkeys. Thirty animals (8-14 years of age)fed either 30% l ess than baseline intake (R, n = 15) or allowed to eat to satiety (C, n = 1 5), have been assessed semiannually using somatometrics and dual-energy x-r ay absorptiometry (DXA) for 7.5 years. R subjects have reduced body weight (p < .0001) total body fat (p < .0001) and percentage body fat located irt the abdominal region (p < .05). In addition, there has been a sustained red uction irt plasma leptin concentrations (p < .001). These findings suggest reduced risk for common morbidities, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidem ia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, that are associated with advancing age an d increased levels of body fat, especially in the visceral depot.