Calories do not explain extension of life span by dietary restriction in Drosophila.
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.
Mair
William
W
Department of Biology, Centre for Research on Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Piper
Matthew D W
MD
Partridge
Linda
L
D000818:Animals; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D015003:Yeasts
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013752:Tetracycline