Created the Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity diet protocols
Valter Longo is a biogerontologist and director of the USC Longevity Institute. He developed the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), a 5-day low-calorie protocol that mimics fasting biochemically while allowing some food intake. Published in Science Translational Medicine, his FMD cycles have shown reductions in metabolic disease risk factors and IGF-1 levels in randomized trials. His research on nutrient-sensing pathways like IGF-1 and mTOR has revealed how dietary interventions can extend healthspan. His book 'The Longevity Diet' combines decades of research into practical dietary recommendations and is frequently cited alongside David Sinclair's work as a foundational text in the fasting-for-longevity field.