People have always been searching for methods to stay young and live longer. For example, in the European middle ages alchemists were looking for the “potion of life”. This elixir, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher’s stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life or eternal youth. So far no elixir has been found. The same holds for the fountain of youth, a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Despite all these efforts it was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that a non-invasive way to prolong life-, and healthspan was found: dietary restriction.

Part of the research described in this thesis was funded by a stimulation grant (05040202, Healthy Ageing) from the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI)/Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). And by grants from Lifespan (ECLSHG- CT-2007-036894), National Institutes of Health (NIH-AG0171242), Ride (Zon MW-948-00-019) and a grant from the Dutch Kidney Foundation (C07-2206). Financial support for the printing of this thesis was obtained from: St. Nationaal Fonds tegen Kanker te Amsterdam, Astellas Pharma B.V., de Nederlandse Vereniging voor Gastroenterologie, Novartis Pharma B.V., Afdeling Heelkunde Erasmus MC, Stichting Erasmus Heelkundig Kankeronderzoek, J.E. Jurriaanse Stichting, Nycomed B.V. en SIMENDO.
J.N.M. IJzermans (Jan)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/22970
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

van Ginhoven, T. (2011, February 2). Beneficial Effects of Preoperative Dietary Restriction. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/22970