Sunday Aug 17, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Calorie restriction is known to extend your lifespan.  But for most people, it is hard to follow a calorie restricted diet for a long term.  Thus drugs and or supplements that can have the same lifespan-extending effect are highly desired.

A new study published this month suggests that beta-hydroxybutyrate may extend lifespan drastically.  The supplement was tested in a type of roundworm (C. elegans) and found able to extended the lifespan of the low animal by 20%.

Beta-hydroxybutyrate supplementation also increased thermtolerance in the worm and partially prevented glucose toxicity.  Additionally, it delayed Alzheimer's amyloid beta toxicity and reduced Parkinson's alpha-synuclein aggregation.

The study also finds evidence indicating that the life-extending effect of beta-hydroxybutyrate is realized through the activation of conserved stress response pathways.

Beta-hydroxybutyrate or beta-hydroxybutyric acid is a histone deacetylase inhibitor and has been shown to be protective against many diseases.  (David Liu, PHD)

Edwards C, Canfield J, Copes N, Rehan M, Lipps D, Bradshaw PC.  D-beta-hydroxybutyrate extends lifespan in C. elegans.  Aging (Albany NY). 2014 Aug 7.