UC San Diego, Freiburg Study Finds Vegan Diet Slows Aging

A randomized clinical trial involving 48 adults compared a vegan diet with a meat‑rich diet for four weeks. Conducted by researchers from UC San Diego and the University of Freiburg, the study measured DNA methylation across more than 800,000 sites before and after the intervention.

Participants on the vegan diet showed reduced levels of neutrophils, higher proportions of CD4 T cells, and overall lower inflammatory markers. Epigenetic‑clock analyses indicated a deceleration of biological age, suggesting the diet can slow molecular signs of aging.

The researchers highlighted that the epigenome responded measurably within a month, demonstrating that everyday dietary choices can rapidly influence molecular processes linked to long‑term health.