Did you know your gut has a secret weapon that might hold the key to living a longer, healthier life? This incredible discovery centres around a chemical your gut bacteria produce during digestion. Here’s how this tiny compound could revolutionize the way we think about ageing and longevity.
The gut’s hidden superpower
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play a critical role in your overall health. Among their many tasks, they help break down bile acids—substances produced by the liver to digest fats. During this process, gut bacteria create a compound called lithocholic acid (LCA).
Recent studies reveal that LCA doesn’t just assist with digestion. It mimics the benefits of fasting, helping the body repair itself and manage energy better. Fasting is already known to promote longer lifespans in many animals, but maintaining such a diet can be tough. LCA offers a promising alternative.
How LCA might help you live longer
In a research published in the journal Nature, scientists tested LCA’s effects on various organisms, including worms, fruit flies, and mice. Here’s what they found:
- Extended lifespan in simpler creatures: In worms and fruit flies, LCA significantly increased their lifespan and boosted their resistance to stress.
- Healthier ageing in mice: Older mice treated with LCA showed remarkable improvements:
- Stronger muscles that repaired themselves faster.
- Better blood sugar control.
- Enhanced stamina and strength without muscle loss, a common downside of strict diets.
- This shows that LCA could replicate fasting-like benefits without requiring drastic lifestyle changes.
So, how does LCA work its magic? Researchers discovered that LCA activates a protein called TULP3 inside our cells. This triggers a series of processes that enhance energy management and cell repair, closely mimicking the benefits of calorie restriction.
This finding highlights the importance of the gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria in your digestive system. By influencing how the body ages, these tiny microbes might explain why some people stay healthier as they grow older.
Should you take LCA supplements? Not so fast!
While the results are exciting, scientists urge caution. Although LCA improved health markers in mice, its lifespan-extending effects were more pronounced in simpler organisms. Additionally, high doses of LCA can damage the liver. Researchers are exploring safer ways to harness its benefits, such as adjusting diets or developing microbiome-targeted therapies.
It’s also important to remember that everyone’s gut microbiome is unique. Your diet, medications, and lifestyle all influence how much LCA your gut produces. What works for one person might not work the same way for another.
Scientists are now studying LCA in primates, whose biology and lifespans are closer to humans. They’re also investigating how dietary changes could naturally boost LCA production, reducing the need for supplements.
This discovery validates ancient beliefs about the health benefits of fasting and bile, while opening new doors to understanding ageing. While we’re still far from a miracle pill, these findings mark a significant step toward living longer and healthier lives.
