Nutrition and Aging Biology: Summary of a Research Centers Collaborative Network Workshop and Research Needs

As the global population of older adults increases, identifying strategies that modify biological aging has become an increasing priority for improving health span and lifespan. When coupled with the growing epidemic of overweight and obesity, nutritional strategies have garnered considerable research attention due to their potential to modulate both aging and metabolism at the cellular and molecular levels. Several key nutritional influences are currently being studied for their effects on aging biology, including caloric restriction, protein restriction, time-restricted eating, ketosis, and the gut microbiome. Of particular relevance is the role of dietary interventions in older adults with obesity, which must carefully balance the cardiometabolic benefits of weight loss with the unintended musculoskeletal losses, including muscle and bone mass. To discuss these critical issues, the Research Centers Collaborative Network sponsored a 1.5-d multidisciplinary workshop bringing together basic, clinical, and translational scientists in the fields of nutrition and aging biology. This meeting included sessions on calorie and protein restriction, timing of food intake, the gut microbiome, and obesity treatment for older adults. The agenda and recordings are archived at https://www.rccn-aging.org/nutrition-and-aging-biology. In this article, we describe the workshop’s themes and discussions and highlight research gaps that, if filled, will considerably advance our understanding of the role of nutrition in healthy aging.