Cell Review Links High Protein Intake to Health Risks and Shorter Lifespan

A review published in the journal *Cell* examined 350 recent scientific studies on protein restriction and aging. The authors concluded that lower protein consumption improves health and extends lifespan by enhancing metabolism, reducing inflammation, and preserving cellular function. They highlighted the hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which rises when protein intake is low and promotes energy expenditure, better glucose control, and reduced inflammation. Excess intake of certain amino acids—methionine, isoleucine and valine—was associated with higher risks of obesity, inflammation and age‑related diseases, including cancer. One author, Dudley Lamming of the University of Wisconsin‑Madison, warned that “the excess protein consumed by sedentary people can have negative health consequences.”