July 5, 2006
How do you know that you are really on a CR diet and that it is having the intended effect? There are theoretical formulas for calorie intake, but what about a set of measurements you can take to see results? As far as I know, there is no standard set of measurements for that.
The following table lists human biomarker values which have been measured during recent CR studies and show a significant difference between CR and non-CR subjects. After the table is more information about it. A second table based on the Biosphere 2 study4 lists additional biomarkers which changed significantly for 8 subjects whose diet and biomarkers were carefully controlled and measured for 2 years from 1991 to 1993.
I also made a personal results table that lists my biomarker values next to those from these tables see if I am getting the expected results. For 17 out of 19 biomarkers I am.
For both of these tables, please read the original study refered to in the footnote references for a complete understanding of what is being measured.
CR Biomarker Values From Recent Peer Reviewed Studies
Biomarker |
Human CR Value |
Units |
Reference Range |
Control Group Value |
Monkey CR Biomarker? |
Non-Primate mammal CR Biomarker? |
|
73.61 |
ng/dl |
70 - 165 (study); 100-200 (NIH Medline) |
91.01 (Sedentary) / 94.31 (Exercising) |
mixed4 |
Yes4 |
|
1.08 (for subgroup, see study)1 |
pg/dl |
1.45 - 3.48 (see study); 2-6 (WebMD) |
1.681 (Sedentary subgroup) |
n/a |
n/a |
|
0.231 |
mg/L |
<1 ("lowest risk") of heart/vascular problems 1 - 3 ("average risk") (WebMD) |
1.111 (Sedentary) / 0.651 (Exercising) |
n/a |
n/a |
|
[Drops by about 3 from baseline of 9.4 after 6 months]3 |
µIU/mL |
|
[Does not drop from baseline of 12.3 after 6 months]3 |
Mixed4 |
Yes4 |
Transforming Growth Factor-Beta |
29.42 |
ng/ml |
n/a |
35.42 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
0.741 |
pg/ml |
|
1.541 (Sedentary) 1.421 (Exercising) |
n/a |
n/a |
Body Temperature |
Dropped about 0.36 (24 hr average) in 6 months3 |
oF |
97.6 - 98.8 |
Unchanged (24 hr average)3 |
n/a |
n/a |
Blood Pressure |
|
mm Hg |
<120 (Systolic)/<80 (Diastolic)(NIH Medline) |
131/832 |
Yes4 |
Yes4 |
About The Table
The table is a work in progress and comments/suggestions are welcome. (Send to phillips@kcnet.com). I list only biomarkers where at least one recent study has shown a significant difference between CR and non-CR. The biomarker name links to a description at Lab Tests Online. For simplicity, I list only the average value from the study, not the range or standard deviations. I include a "reference range", as noted in the study, WebMD, and/or NIH Medline. Reference ranges vary based on several factors: how it was measured; the reference population; etc.
The table also notes if animals on CR show a significant difference from controls. Most of this information comes from the Biosphere 2 study4, which has the original references.
And, as always, consult with your own physician about the meaning of any test you take.
Biosphere 2 Biomarker Changes
The Biosphere 2 study4 tracked the diet and biomarkers for 8 subjects who agreed to live in Biosphere 2 for 2 years. The subjects were put on a CR diet. A large number of biomarkers were measured regularly to see how they changed, and then how they changed back following the 2 year study. The values shown in the table are the average values taken during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th periods inside the Biosphere. I computed the averages using these values because they were taken during the middle of the confinement.
They are limited to biomarkers which changed significantly with the study. They are listed as in Table 3 of the study from most signifant to less significant.
This study noted whether changes occurred in monkeys and non-primate mammals and, if so, the direction of change. I have indicated these as a change up, down, none, mixed, or n/a (not available). I have also highlighted in blue those biomarkers which changed in the same direction across all mammals. Refer to the study for more detail and references to supporting studies.
CR Biomarker Values From Biosphere 2 Study4
Biomarker |
Human CR Value |
Units |
Reference Range |
Monkey CR Change |
Non-Primate mammal CR Change |
BMI |
19.3 |
kg/m2 |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Cholesterol |
121.3 |
mg/dL |
|
n/a |
down |
Triiodothyronine (T3) See also Table 1 |
99.8 |
ng/dL |
|
n/a |
down |
Thyroid (or Thyroxine) binding globulin - TBG |
14.9 |
µg/mL |
|
n/a |
n/a |
High-density lipoprotein |
37.4 |
mg/dL |
|
n/a |
down |
Systolic Blood Pressure |
90.4 |
Hg(mm) |
|
down |
down |
Insulin |
8.0 |
mcU/dL |
|
down |
down |
Uric acid |
3.8 |
mg/dL |
|
down |
mixed |
Diastolic Blood Pressure |
57.1 |
Hg(mm) |
|
down |
down |
Androstenedione |
145 |
ng/dL |
Adults: male: 57-265, female: 47-268 (LabCorp) |
n/a |
n/a |
Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) |
6.1 |
percent |
|
none |
down |
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) |
60.9 |
Units/L |
|
up |
up |
Alanine transferase (ALT) |
21.4 |
Units/L |
|
up |
up |
Reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) |
31.1 |
ng/dL |
n/a |
n/a |
up |
Glucose |
70.1 |
milligrams/dL |
|
down |
down |
Transferin |
230.9 |
mg/dL |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Low density lipoprotein |
66.8 |
mg/dL |
|
none |
n/a |
Estradiol (men) |
24.3 |
pg/dL |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Prolactin (men) |
12.4 |
ng/dL |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Renin |
0.8 |
(ng/mL)/h |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) |
11.0 |
mg/dL |
|
n/a |
n/a |
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) |
2.1 |
mIU/L |
|
n/a |
none |
Cortisol binding globulin |
3.2 |
mg/dL |
n/a |
down/none [study was up] |
down [study was up] |
White blood cell count (WBC) |
5.1 |
103 |
|
down |
down |
Sex hormone binding globuline |
57.4 |
nmol/dL |
n/a |
n/a |
none |
Total cortisol |
16.2 |
µg/dL |
|
none |
up |
Prolactin (women) |
15.0 |
ng/dL |
|
n/a |
down [study was up] |
Free cortisol |
2.1 |
µg/dL |
5-25 (Blood morning); 3-16 (Blood afternoon) (WebMD) |
n/a |
up |
Creatinine |
0.9 |
mg/dL |
|
n/a |
none/down |
Triglycerides |
103.7 |
mg/dL |
|
down |
down |
Biomarker References
2 Meyer Timothy E, Kovacs Sandor J, Ehsani Ali A, Klein Samuel, Holloszy John O, Fontana Luigi. Long-Term Caloric Restriction Ameliorates the Decline in Diastolic Function in Humans; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Volume 47, Issue 2 , 17 January 2006, Pages 398-402
3 Heilbronn Leonie K, Jonge Lilian de, Frisard Madlyn I, DeLany James P, Larson-Meyer D. Enette, Rood Jennifer, Nguyen Tuong, Martin Corby K, Volaufova Julia, Most Marlene M, Greenway Frank L, Smith Steven R, Deutsch Walter A, Williamson Donald A, Ravussin Eric. Effect of 6-Month Calorie Restriction on Biomarkers of Longevity, Metabolic Adaptation, and Oxidative Stress in Overweight Individuals; Journal of the American Medical Association, April 5, 2006; JAMA. 2006;295:1539-1548, 1577-1578
4 Walford Roy L, Mock Dennis, Verdery Roy, MacCallum Calorie Restriction in Biosphere 2: Alterations in Physiologic, Hematologic, Hormonal, and Biochemical Parameters in Humans Restricted for a 2-Year Period; Journal of Gerontology: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2002, Vol. 57A, No. 6, B211-B224
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