Four Weeks of a Vegan Diet Alter Signs of Inflammation and Aging

Nutrition study involving 48 healthy adults / Researchers analyze more than 800,000 genetic loci / Evidence of changes in inflammatory processes, metabolism, and biological aging

Just four weeks of dietary changes can already be reflected in epigenetic changes. This is shown by a study conducted by theUniversity Center for Naturopathy at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and the University of California, San Diego, involving 48 healthy adults. The research team led by PD Dr. Maximilian Storz, Lukas Karbacher, M.Sc., and Prof. Dr. Jerome Mertens (University of California, San Diego) investigated how a vegan diet or a diet particularly high in meat affects epigenetic marks on the surface of DNA. In the process, they found evidence of changes in biological signaling pathways associated with, among other things, inflammatory responses, cell growth, and biological aging. The results were published on August 3, 2026, in the journal MedComm.

“Our findings show that a dietary change can trigger measurable changes at the epigenetic level within just a few weeks,” says Storz, a specialist at the University Center for Naturopathy at the Department of Medicine II at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg and one of the study’s lead authors. “Now, larger and longer-term studies must show whether these changes are permanent and how they can be integrated into existing treatment regimens.”

More Than 800,000 Genetic Locations Analyzed

After a one-week period of standardized nutrition, the participants were randomly assigned to two groups: 24 followed a vegan diet for four weeks, while 24 followed a diet particularly high in meat. Energy intake was to remain as constant as possible. Blood samples were collected before and after the dietary change. In total, the research team analyzed approximately 800,000 DNA sites for so-called methylation—chemical marks that can influence how active certain genes are.

After four weeks, changes were observed in several biological signaling pathways in the vegan group. Among other things, these changes affected processes that regulate cell growth, metabolism, and cell repair. For example, the activity of the mTOR signaling pathway was reduced; excessive activation of this pathway can promote uncontrolled cell growth. At the same time, signaling pathways associated with insulin action, cell repair, stress responses, and healthy aging were more strongly activated.

The researchers also found differences in the immune system: In the vegan group, there were fewer neutrophils—a type of white blood cell that can promote inflammatory responses—and more CD4+ T cells, which play an important role in regulating the immune response. Overall, this pattern suggests a less pro-inflammatory immune response.

Original title of the study:A vegan diet epigenetically modulates inflammatory pathways and biological aging: Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of a one-month isocaloric vegan versus meat-rich dietary intervention
DOI: 10.1002/mco2.70899
Link to the study:https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70899