Periodic FMD cycles improve metabolic risk markers
Randomised studies showed reductions in body fat, blood pressure and IGF-1 after a few monthly cycles.
What does the science say? MixedSource: Wei/Longo et al., Sci Transl Med 2017 ↗
Engy › Who's who in longevity › Valter Longo
At a glance
- Director of the Longevity Institute at USC; also affiliated with IFOM in Milan.
- Developed the fasting-mimicking diet (FMD): about 5 days of low calories and plant protein.
- Author of The Longevity Diet, among others; commercial product ProLon.
- His research links FMD cycles to metabolic markers, IGF-1 and biological age estimates.
Known positions
FMD may lower biological age
A 2024 analysis reported lower insulin resistance, less liver fat and an estimated reduction in biological age; replication and clinical endpoints are still needed.
What does the science say? MixedSource: Nature Communications 2024 ↗
A plant-based, legume-rich ‘longevity diet’ with little red meat
Longo bases his dietary advice on the Blue Zones, epidemiology and lab work — not on a single decisive trial.
What does the science say? MixedSource: USC Longevity Institute ↗
The ‘What does the science say?’ rating is an estimate by the Engy editors based on the cited source and the wider research. Not medical advice.
Criticism and nuance
Conflict of interest: Longo is a co-inventor of FMD technology linked to L-Nutra/ProLon. That makes independent replication all the more important.
FMD is not suitable for everyone (e.g. malnutrition, eating disorders, some chronic diseases). ‘Rejuvenation’ in biomarkers is not the same as proven extra years of healthy life.