Daily yogurt and 30 minutes of exercise for 3 months slowed biological aging, study finds

Simple lifestyle changes may be enough to slow the pace of biological aging, according to new research.

Japanese researchers published findings in the international journal Aging on Thursday, showing that three months of dietary improvements and light exercise can measurably affect biological aging.

The research team divided 48 overweight men between the ages of 50 and 74 into two groups for a 12-week trial. Half followed a structured health management program that included eating 100 grams of plain yogurt daily.

Those participants were advised to avoid overeating and frequent snacking and to cut out sugary drinks. They were also instructed to walk or use a stepper for 30 minutes a day at least three times a week. The other half maintained their usual lifestyle habits.

The researchers collected blood samples from participants before and after the trial, analyzing chemical changes in DNA to compare cellular aging markers.

Men who consumed plain yogurt, adjusted their diet and exercised showed a significantly slower rate of aging compared with the control group. On average, the pace of biological aging slowed by about 2.2 percent.

Fox News noted that the effect was comparable to aging-delay results seen in a two-year American study in which participants reduced their daily caloric intake by 25 percent.

The changes occurred regardless of whether participants lost weight, and improvements were also observed in specific DNA markers related to kidney function.

The researchers highlighted the combination of three elements — probiotics, diet and exercise — saying the anti-aging effect appeared to result from the interplay of multiple factors.

However, the study has limitations: the sample size was small, the research period was short, and participants were restricted to overweight men of a single nationality. The study was led by the research and development division of Morinaga Milk Industry, a Japanese yogurt manufacturer.

The researchers added that further study is needed to determine whether these short-term biological changes can translate into permanent, long-term health benefits.