Macronutrient Contributions to Longevity

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The full text of this papaer is now available via Pubmed ......

Pubmed ID: 16000018

" Calories Do Not Explain Extension of Life Span by Dietary

Restriction in Drosophila "

Mair, D. W. Piper, and Partridge

" Dietary restriction (DR) extends life span in diverse organisms,

including mammals, and common mechanisms may be at work. DR is often

known as calorie restriction, because it has been suggested that

reduction of calories, rather than of particular nutrients in the

diet, mediates extension of life span in rodents. We here demonstrate

that extension of life span by DR in Drosophila is not attributable

to the reduction in calorie intake. Reduction of either dietary yeast

or sugar can reduce mortality and extend life span, but by an amount

that is unrelated to the calorie content of the food, and with yeast

having a much greater effect per calorie than does sugar. Calorie

intake is therefore not the key factor in the reduction of mortality

rate by DR in this species. "

In this study sugar provided the carbohydrates, and yeast the fat and

protein. Restriction of sugar calories had less effect on longevity

than restriction of yeast calories.

Rodney.