One-month randomized vegan diet intervention changed DNA methylation and epigenetic aging clocks

Karbacher and colleagues analyzed genome-wide DNA methylation after a one-month randomized, isocaloric vegan versus meat-rich diet intervention in 48 healthy adults. The vegan group showed more differentially methylated positions in promoter regions linked to cancer-related pathways, cell growth, mTOR, and Hippo signaling. Cell-type deconvolution indicated fewer neutrophils and more CD4+ T cells, consistent with an anti-inflammatory shift. Pathway analysis also showed lower methylation in genes related to insulin signaling and changes in lipid-metabolism pathways. PhenoAge and GrimAge indicated slower biological aging in the vegan group. The Blood&Skin clock moved in the opposite direction, which is an important measurement conflict. The study therefore supports short-term molecular changes, not a claim that vegan diets extend life. The sample was small and the intervention lasted one month. The endpoints were methylation patterns and clock estimates rather than disease events, function, or mortality. The randomized design is stronger than a dietary cohort, but the discordant clocks reduce confidence in a single direction of effect. The result is relevant to mTOR and epigenetic-age monitoring. It does not establish that a vegan diet is superior for every older adult, especially where protein adequacy, muscle mass, or clinical nutrition is a concern.

Convergent evidence from pathway analysis and health-outcome epigenetic clocks thus suggests that a 1-month VD drives epigenomic changes associated with reduced cancer risk and decelerated biological aging.