I've spent considerable time choosing how to deal with the problem of
describing exactly HOW dietary restriction works, but finally decided the
complexity of the issues, as well as the controversial nature of the
research precludes a lengthy discourse on the FML.  There are at least a
dozen well thought out hypotheses offered to explain the observational
data, including some that include elements of several leading contenders.
Instead, I will leave the exact mechanism as a black box.  Remember those
cartoons where raw materials are fed into a box-like machine, strange
movements, steam, and noises emerge, and out the other end comes the
finished object?  That's the concept of a black box: you can see what
goes in and what comes out, but the mechanism that produces the change is
mysteriously hidden.  In terms of dietary restriction, while the exact
mechanism(s) causing change are unknown or unproven, the products exiting
the machine are observable, repeatable, quantifiable, and testable.  They
are observations: data, NOT hypotheses.  For this discussion, we can
ignore the mechanism of change (for the most part), concentrating instead
on the observable results.
 
For those desiring to learn more details about the process, please refer
to the bibliography I will supply at the end of the discussion.
 
Most of the longevity and health advantages of dietary restriction have
been already been briefly mentioned and will be specifically addressed in
the future.  The big question is, are the myriad of studies done on other
species applicable to ferrets?  This question is being asked, for the
same basic reasons, about dietary restriction in humans, and most current
research is geared towards that end.
 
Few studies specific to ferrets have been done (I am associated with two
studies in ferrets, but cannot divulge the data until publication).
Nonetheless, there are at least five reasons why the studies are directly
applicable to ferrets.
 
1) The findings are consistent in ALL mammalian species studied,
including rodents, rabbits, dogs, cats, mink, monkeys, and humans.
2) The findings are consistent in ALL animal species studied, including
worms, insects, mollusks, spiders, fish, reptiles, and mammals.
3) The findings have been supported by nearly a century of research
without falsification.
4) The findings have been substantiated in a multi-discipline approach,
with supporting evidence being offered from a wide range of independent
researchers, including gerontologists, geneticists, physiologists, cancer
specialists, veterinarians, animal husbandry experts, nutritionists, and
many more.
5) Following Occam's razor, it is the simplest explanation for the recent
(reported) increase in various related diseases in ferrets, which may,
could, possibly, might, maybe, perhaps include visual problems, shortened
life span, increase in various tumors (especially those of the skin and
digestive and endocrine systems), autoimmunity problems, and blood sugar
regulation problems (NOT the cause, but more like a trigger).
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 3957]