Reducing folate intake as you age may lead to a healthier metabolism and body weight—if you’re a mouse, at least.
In a July study published in Life Science Alliance, a folate- and choline-restricted diet increased metabolic rates in middle-aged male mice. In females, the diet resulted in better “metabolic plasticity,” or the flexibility to switch between burning carbohydrates and fat for energy. All the mice maintained their weight and body composition better than the group consuming normal folate levels.
The study’s authors concluded that “a lower folate intake later in life may result in healthier aging.”
However, that doesn’t appear to be the whole story for humans. Folate is critical for several essential metabolic and cellular processes, and when it comes to aging, how your body handles folate may be just as important as how much you get from food and supplements....
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