Longevity ‘elixir’: have Chinese scientists found a way to extend life, boost health?

A team of scientists in China said they have discovered how a type of bile known as lithocholic acid (LCA) can slow down ageing in a way similar to how calorie restriction or fasting work.

The team found that LCA, a naturally occurring acid compound in humans and animals that is produced in the liver, is a metabolite that alone can reproduce starvation effects in mice – resulting in muscle regeneration and even enhancing grip strength and running capacity.

The findings of the study, led by Xiamen University, were published in two articles in the peer-reviewed journal Nature on Thursday.

During calorie restriction, LCA is accumulated in mammals and activates the energy sensor enzyme AMPK, a master metabolic regulator.

AMPK, which is naturally activated when glucose levels become low, is important for anti-ageing because it regulates various cellular processes including inflammation and neurodegeneration.

To activate it without fasting is to induce a state of pseudo-starvation.