4 Ways to Truly Rejuvenate by Increasing the Anti-Aging Protein DEL-1 (Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Medication)

(The eye-catching image is cited from Getty Images free photos: left: macrophage, right: bone cell)

DEL-1 I have been writing a series about this anti-aging protein.

This is the final installment, with DEL-1 as the theme once again.
For those who are practical and want to know how to increase anti-aging substances rather than academic discussions about mechanisms, please read at least this article.
I have written it so that it can be read independently, even as part of a series.

Although the second installment was less about DEL-1 and entirely an article about bone remodeling, so if you are worried about or interested in osteoporosis, please take a look at that as well.

I write many articles about anti-aging mechanisms and research content, and last time I introduced research from Niigata University.
I keep repeating 'rejuvenation' in the title this time, but it is written as 'rejuvenation' in the paper title.

DEL-1 is a protein that originally exists in the human body, and it has functions such as suppressing inflammation and protecting tissues.

Furthermore, in research announced at Niigata University in 2026, it was revealed that DEL-1 has the function of selectively eliminating senescent cells, and it is attracting attention as a senolytic factor inherent in the body.
Senolytic refers to a mechanism that removes cells that have aged and lost their normal function.

In other words, DEL-1 has multiple functions deeply related to aging, such as 'suppressing inflammation,' 'removing senescent cells,' and 'protecting tissues such as bones.'

However, it is known that DEL-1 decreases with age.
So, how can we increase DEL-1?
There are four main methods that have emerged from current research.
They are 'diet,' 'exercise,' 'lifestyle,' and 'medication'.

This time, I will organize these four methods as clearly as possible and explain what is currently scientifically understood and what is still in the research stage.

1. Diet: Omega-3 fatty acids support DEL-1

In a diet to maintain DEL-1, omega-3 fatty acids are particularly noteworthy.
Omega-3 fatty acids are fatty acids that cannot be produced in sufficient quantities in the body, so they must be obtained from diet.
Representative examples are flaxseed oil and perilla oil which contain alpha-linolenic acid, as well as blue-backed fish such as mackerel and sardines, which are rich in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

The point where omega-3 fatty acids relate to DEL-1 is the mechanism that ends inflammation.
Inflammation is by no means a bad thing.
Bacteria and viruses require an inflammatory response to protect the body.
The problem is when inflammation lasts longer than necessary.
Chronic inflammation puts a strain on body tissues and makes DEL-1 more likely to decrease.

A substance called resolvin, which is produced in the body from omega-3 fatty acids, has the function of gently ending inflammation.
Resolvin is a lipid named after the word "resolve" (to resolve inflammation).
Research has confirmed that this resolvin suppresses the decline of DEL-1 and maintains DEL-1 levels.

In other words, omega-3 fatty acids themselves do not become DEL-1.
It is easier to understand if you think of the substances produced from omega-3 fatty acids as suppressing inflammation and creating an environment where DEL-1 can function easily.

2026 research from Niigata University has also reported research results showing that DEL-1 increased with the intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
Additionally, it has been introduced that consuming flaxseed oil at one tablespoon per day resulted in DEL-1 levels increasing by approximately 1.5 times.
However, this figure cannot be taken to mean that "anyone can increase their DEL-1 by 1.5 times if they take one tablespoon of flaxseed oil."
Since results vary depending on the research subjects and conditions, it is appropriate at this time to consider these as "foods containing omega-3 fatty acids that are promising for maintaining DEL-1."

In your daily diet, it is also recommended to incorporate not only flaxseed oil but also perilla oil and blue-backed fish such as mackerel, sardines, and horse mackerel.
Flaxseed oil and perilla oil can be easily incorporated by drizzling them over salads, natto, or yogurt.
And the most important thing for DEL-1 is not "eating large amounts of only specific foods."
It is important to combine fish, vegetables, legumes, and fruits to maintain a diet where chronic inflammation is less likely to occur in the body.

While it is ideal to obtain omega-3s from food, if you cannot, it is better to take them as a supplement than to do nothing at all.

2. Exercise: Stimulating DEL-1 through walking

Along with diet, exercise is also receiving attention.
In DEL-1 research, walking and other aerobic exercises are particularly noteworthy.
A 2026 study reported that one hour of walking per day for one month resulted in DEL-1 levels increasing by approximately 1.5 times.
Furthermore, three times a week, 30 minutes per session of walking has also been shown in research results to increase DEL-1 depending on the age group.

From these studies, it can be inferred that there is some kind of relationship between moving the body and DEL-1.
When you exercise, muscles are no longer just "organs for moving the body."
Muscles release many substances, such as myokines and other hormones, which then travel through the blood to affect the entire body.
For this reason, exercise is not just a matter of muscles, but an activity that affects the entire body, including blood vessels, immunity, and metabolism.

Since DEL-1 is produced by vascular endothelial cells and other sources, it is thought that improvements in blood vessels and overall body condition through exercise also hold significant meaning for DEL-1.
Whether doing intense exercise
increases DEL-1 more is not something that can be said so simply at this point. There is no need to do intense exercise solely for the purpose of increasing DEL-1.

Rather, what is important is making exercise that you can continue without strain a habit.
For example, you can start with about 30 minutes of walking a day and increase the walking time as you get used to it.
Increasing the time you spend walking during your commute or while shopping, or using the stairs instead of the elevator, are also ways to increase your daily amount of exercise.
Of course, besides walking, you can choose any exercise you find easy to continue, such as cycling, swimming, or light jogging.

What becomes clear from DEL-1 research is the importance of "consistency" over "trying hard just once." Rather than searching for a special exercise to increase DEL-1,
building a habit of moving your body even a little every day is more realistic.

3. Lifestyle: It is also important to "not decrease" rather than just "increase"

When thinking about ways to increase DEL-1, what is surprisingly important is not letting DEL-1 decrease. It is known that DEL-1 not only decreases with age but also
decreases due to chronic inflammation. In other words, instead of just thinking about increasing DEL-1, the idea of "
creating an internal environment where DEL-1 is less likely to decrease" is also important. A prime example of this is avoiding chronic inflammation
.

Inflammation is a necessary reaction to protect the body. For example, when
bacteria invade the body, immune cells gather to cause inflammation and prevent infection. However, if inflammation continues indefinitely, it ends up
damaging even healthy tissue. DEL-1 has the function of suppressing such excessive inflammation
.

Therefore, not causing chronic inflammation in the body is also important in terms of maintaining DEL-1. A typical and familiar example is
periodontal disease. In periodontal disease,
chronic inflammation of the gums occurs. Research has shown that DEL-1 suppresses inflammation in periodontal tissue
and protects the bone that supports the teeth.

Conversely, a state where gum inflammation persists for a long time can be considered an environment where DEL-1 must constantly work. Therefore, daily
brushing and interdental cleaning, as well as regular dental checkups, become important. Not leaving oral inflammation untreated is also meaningful from the perspective of DEL-1. Furthermore,
lack of sleep
, lack of exercise, unbalanced diet, and intense stress are also related to the body's inflammatory state. Therefore, the lifestyle habits to maintain DEL-1 are by no means special. "Sleep enough," "exercise moderately," "eat a balanced diet," "keep your mouth clean," and "do not accumulate too much stress." Continuing these basic lifestyle habits
will lead to building a body that is less likely to lose DEL-1.

4. Medication: Research on directly increasing DEL-1 has begun

The diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits introduced so far are all methods that can be addressed in daily life. On the other hand, another major direction in DEL-1 research is the method of "directly increasing DEL-1 through
medication."

Representing this, macrolide antibiotics are being studied. Macrolide antibiotics are drugs used to treat
bacterial infections.

Niigata University's 2024 research has revealed that, apart from their function of suppressing bacteria, these drugs have the effect of increasing DEL-1. A representative drug is
erythromycin. In the study, it was confirmed that when erythromycin acts on vascular cells, the reduced
production of DEL-1 is restored. In other words, erythromycin does not replenish DEL-1 from the outside. It acts on the cells that produce DEL-1, causing the cells themselves to produce DEL-1

.

A further development of this research is EM-523. EM-523 is a
research compound developed based on erythromycin. (As the name suggests, EM-523 is the 523rd compound developed from E(rythro)M(ycin)). This is being developed with the goal of
retaining the function of increasing DEL-1
while having no antibacterial activity.

Why is such a medication necessary?
If you use antibiotics like erythromycin for long-term rejuvenation purposes, there is a risk of increasing drug-resistant bacteria that the medicine will not be effective against.
Also, it might kill even the necessary bacteria in your body.
Therefore, if we can separate the 'antibacterial action' from the 'DEL-1 increasing action', it would become a safer DEL-1 inducing drug.

In fact, research has confirmed that increasing DEL-1 with erythromycin or EM-523 has the effect of promoting bone formation and suppressing bone loss due to periodontal disease in aged mice.
Furthermore, a 2026 study revealed, as mentioned in the previous article, that DEL-1 itself has the function of selectively removing senescent cells.
With this, a new aspect of drugs that increase DEL-1 has emerged: not just suppressing inflammation, but also ' clearing senescent cells from the body '.

However, this is a very important point.
Please do not take antibiotics like erythromycin on your own judgment for rejuvenation or anti-aging purposes.
Current erythromycin is strictly a pharmaceutical product used for infectious diseases and the like.
Also, EM-523 is unapproved as an anti-aging drug that the general public can use.
At this stage, drugs that increase DEL-1 should be considered as ' research with the potential to lead to future anti-aging medicine '.

Summary: From a lifestyle of 'increasing' DEL-1 to one of 'protecting' it

When organizing methods to increase DEL-1 based on current research, a direction emerges that can be divided into four types.

The first is diet.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil, perilla oil, and blue-backed fish are being studied for their relationship with the mechanism that maintains DEL-1.

The second is exercise.
Research results have been reported showing that DEL-1 increases through aerobic exercise such as walking.

The third is lifestyle habits.
It is important not only to increase DEL-1, but also to live a life that avoids chronic inflammation as much as possible.
In particular, not leaving chronic inflammation such as periodontal disease untreated can be considered one of the accessible DEL-1 countermeasures.

And the fourth is medication. It has been confirmed that
erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics have the effect of increasing DEL-1. Furthermore, research is also progressing on new DEL-1 inducers like
EM-523, which do not have antibacterial properties. However, there are still many aspects of medication that are in the research stage, and
antibiotics cannot be used for the purpose of rejuvenation.

What is important here is that it is not a simple matter of "how many times you need to increase DEL-1 to rejuvenate."
Current research tells us that various factors, not just aging but also chronic inflammation and living environment, are involved in the background of DEL-1 reduction.

That is why, rather than just thinking about increasing DEL-1, the mindset of "building a body where DEL-1 is less likely to decrease" becomes important. This is by no means a special rejuvenation method. However, by accumulating these habits, you will be able to

maintain an internal environment where DEL-1 can perform its original functions.

This article is intended to provide general health information and is not intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any specific disease.
If you have any concerns about your physical condition, please consult a professional such as a doctor.

Now, during the Obon season, likes and views drop significantly.
(There will likely be an impact today as well.)
I will avoid writing articles on the same theme or series that would result in fewer likes just for the Obon articles.
Regarding the schedule from next time onwards, it will be as follows, and I will publish a sitemap article for which I personally do not mind having fewer likes.

August 13 (Thu) No publication
August 17 (Mon) 10:00 AM Sitemap article
From August 24 (Mon) onwards I will publish new themes on Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 AM.

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