Lowering specific dietary amino acids to support healthy aging
Official title: Translational analysis of a novel intervention to promote healthy aging.
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11174365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether reducing three amino acids in the diet can help older adults with obesity or type 2 diabetes lose fat and improve blood sugar control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $616,424 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG085898-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11174365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future human testing would be adults aged 65 and older with obesity and/or type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes or those at high risk for age-related insulin resistance.
✕Less likely to help
People without obesity, those with type 1 diabetes, or individuals who cannot modify dietary protein composition may be unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project first uses mice to find the optimal level of reducing isoleucine, valine, or histidine that improves body composition and insulin sensitivity. The team will then test an optimized amino-acid–restricted diet in nonhuman primates to see if it reduces adiposity and restores glycemic control. Blood, adipose, and skeletal muscle samples will be analyzed with transcriptomics and metabolomics to understand the molecular changes caused by the diet. Past human data linking lower isoleucine or histidine to lower BMI will help guide whether these diets might be safe and effective for older people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to diet-based strategies that help older adults reduce body fat and improve glucose control, lowering risks from diabetes and related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Related preclinical studies showed reduced adiposity and better insulin sensitivity in obese mice, and observational human data link lower isoleucine or histidine with lower BMI, but large clinical trials are not yet available.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colman, Ricki J — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Colman, Ricki J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.