A study published in Nature has revealed that a consistently lower caloric intake prolongs life more effectively than intermittent fasting. It was conducted by researchers at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), involving nearly a thousand genetically distinct mice on various diets.

The study challenged existing theories on the biological markers of aging and longevity. 

Previous research has suggested that periodic fasting could be as effective as reducing overall caloric intake. However, the new findings indicate that maintaining a consistently lower caloric intake is more beneficial.

The study found that, even with dietary restrictions, how long mice lived varied a lot within different diet groups. 

Researchers looked at over 200 physical traits in the mice, measuring up to 724 different factors for each mouse over time. They tracked weekly body weights, and tested strength, temperature, and several other health indicators like metabolism and immune function.

They analyzed how these traits changed with age, body weight, and diet, using statistical methods to figure out which traits were linked to lifespan while considering diet and weight. 

According to the researchers, calorie restriction increases the average lifespan of several species. An alternate type of food restriction that may be more durable for humans is intermittent fasting, although its efficiency has not yet been thoroughly studied. Determining the most effective food restriction strategies is essential to creating diets that enhance human longevity and health.

According to the study, 960 genetically heterogeneous female mice were used for the detailed evaluation of the effects of intermittent fasting (one or two days per week) and graded levels of caloric restriction (20% and 40%) on the mice's health and survival.

They demonstrate that extending one's lifespan in proportion to the degree of restriction was achieved through both intermittent fasting and calorie restriction.

Genetics had a greater impact on lifespan than dietary restriction, and lifespan was heritable. The characteristics that showed the strongest correlations with longevity were high lymphocyte proportion, low red blood cell dispersion width, high adiposity in late life, and maintaining body weight during times of stress resilience.