The Effect of an Ad Libitum Diet
 
The evidence is overwhelming that an ad libitum diet has a deleterious
effect on mammals- -a finding that was withstood the tests of time and
extended research, and is probably an universal mammalian trait (it is
proven true for every species studied).  Dietary restriction is best
defined as "caloric restriction without malnutrition," meaning the ferret
receives ALL essential protein, vitamin, fatty acids, amino acids, and
trace nutrients.  The ONLY restriction is that of calories (caloric
energy).  With dietary restriction, ferrets are NOT underfed, nor are
they malnourished; they are simply restricted in the number of calories
they are allowed to consume.  And THAT is the key.
 
For reasons still unclear to researchers, the restriction of dietary
energy impacts a number of physiological mechanisms responsible for
ageing, reproduction, reduced longevity, intensity and timing of disease,
and establishment of various cancers.  The exact mechanism is a black
box, but more than likely it includes gene expression, intra-cellular
ecology, AGE and other toxic components, insulin-like growth factors,
free radical production, oxidative stress, and glucose and insulin
exposure, among other factors.  Areas just now being investigated include
the formation and accumulation of AGE compounds (heat-generated Advanced
Glycation Endproducts, or dietary glycotoxins) in the liver and other
organs, tied to the cross-linking of extracellular proteins and
macromolecules, changes in cell-matrix interactions, and alterations in
cellular signaling.  These compounds can be carcinogenic, and have been
shown to shorten longevity and compromise the immune system.  AGE
compound creation is tied to the amount of glucose present in the
tissues.  AGE compounds also form in common foods as a result of
spontaneous reactions between reducing sugars and proteins or lipids in
the presence of heat (like that occurring during kibble formation).
 
Later, when I discuss diet, I will explain why restriction of caloric
intake will have little or no negative effect on ferrets (but if you
insist on acting like the Catholic Church towards Galileo, feel free to
scream "danger, danger" before learning if the paradigm works or not.
Demagogic is as demagogic does...).  In my next post, I will discuss
the effect of calorie restriction on the pineal gland and the melatonin
pathway.  Until then, if you are worried dietary restriction means
malnutrition:
 
1) "The life span-extending actions of CR depend specifically on calorie
restriction per se."
 
2) "It is clear that the effects of CR depend on the reduction of
calories per se and not upon a reduced consumption of other dietary
components."
 
3) "The low calorie, nutrient-dense character of the diet corresponded to
what has been shown to retard aging, prevent or retard the development of
most age-related diseases, and extend average and maximum life spans in
rodents, as well as a variety of other species."
 
4) "There is an impressive body of evidence demonstrating that dietary
restriction, particularly in the form of caloric restriction (CR), or
energy restriction, is effective in retarding the aging process, as
well as in substantially increasing life span."
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 3968]