Eating vegan, even temporarily, can do wonders for your health and biological age, according to a scientific study of twins consuming different diets.

Researchers from the United States fed 21 pairs of twins either a vegan or meat-based diet over eight weeks and found that the twins who ate the vegan diet had reductions in their biological age estimates based on chemicals associated with ageing.

“This study suggests that a short-term vegan diet is associated with epigenetic age benefits and reduced calorie intake,” the researchers said.

“Future research should explore the long-term effects of vegan diets on epigenetic health and overall wellbeing, considering the importance of proper nutrient supplementation.”

The researchers observed decreases in biological age estimations based on levels of DNA methylation, a type of chemical modification of DNA that is used to estimate biological age, that weren’t found in participants who ate meat, eggs and dairy.

The study was published in BMC Medicine journal.

Weight loss

Participants in the study ate prepared meals for the first four weeks, before cooking their own meals after sessions with nutritionists for the following four.

The twin on the vegan diet lost two more kilos on average than the meat-based diet, due to consuming 200 fewer calories, which could have contributed to the improved differences in biological age,  researchers found.

“We observed significant changes using epigenetic age clocks among healthy identical twins, suggesting short-term advantageous ageing benefits for a calorie-restricted vegan diet compared to an omnivorous diet,” the study’s authors said.

“Future research utilising a long-term, well-controlled study design will further highlight the complex relationships between diet, epigenetics, and health outcomes such as weight loss while emphasising the importance of proper nutrient supplementation in vegan diets.”

Those consuming a planet-based diet lost on average two kilos across eight weeks. Photo: Getty

Varun Dwaraka, of epigenetic testing company TruDiagnostic Inc., and Christopher Gardner of Stanford University, California, said it is unclear how much the differences between the pairs can be attributed to the differences in diet.

The team of researchers also found that those who ate a vegan diet had lower average biological ages in their hearts, hormones, livers and inflammatory and metabolic systems.

Health benefits

Many studies have examined the health benefits and trade-offs of a vegan diet, with most appearing to highlight the decrease in obesity and an increase in fibre and micronutrients.

A 2020 review of plant-based diets found they are “associated with a significantly reduced risk of negative health outcomes” and “a well-planned diet of plant-based whole foods incorporating a variety of vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes can be one tool to help physicians and patients address the chronic lifestyle diseases”.

Other health benefits can include a reduction in blood pressure, but studies have highlighted lower bone mineral density, an increased risk of fractures and an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke as potential negatives of plant-based diets.