Harnessing the power of a metabolite produced in the kidneys and absorbed from certain foods can mimic the health benefits delivered by exercise, regulating inflammation and promoting an array of anti-aging processes without any physical activity.
A team of scientists led by the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered how the naturally produced metabolite betaine acts as a "molecular proxy" for actual exercise. So when administered at a level seen in people who are highly active, it can stall – and potentially even reverse – aging in kidney, vascular and immune cells.
In a study that spanned six years, the researchers mapped intricate molecular activity of 13 young, healthy males who undertook both intensive, high-effort workouts and more enduring exercise such as long-distance running, to see what these two modes of physical activity could be triggering. What they found was that, surprisingly, the kidneys appeared to play a key role in shielding cells from natural aging processes.
And yes, it's worth pointing out that the study cohort was restricted to just males, which the researchers acknowledge is the key limitation of their findings.
Nonetheless, the team discovered that, in endurance trainers, certain biomarkers of inflammation and cellular aging were much lower than control samples. (Meanwhile intensive, short bursts of exercise, on the other hand, triggered more cellular distress including cortisol spikes and oxidative stress.)
The team homed in on this metabolite, administering oral doses to aged mice – an animal model that could best mirror humans – and then assessed changes in muscle strength, endurance, mitochondrial function, inflammatory markers and gene expression. They found that these older animals showed significant improvements in those same health markers that otherwise resulted from endurance training. They also had reduced inflammation and enhanced tissue regeneration.
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