Do "heavy" eaters live longer?
A new hypothesis is put forward, linking cellular endurance with dietary consumption of stable heavy isotopes. Due to the isotope effect, biomolecules that incorporate heavier isotopes give rise to more stable molecular structures with increased resistance to damages associated with aging and age-related disease. The inclusion of heavy isotopes might be either active (selection for heavier isotopes) or passive (incorporation reflecting the existing abundance). The hypothesis links consumption of foods relatively rich in heavy isotopes (such as (13)C and D, derived from C4-plants), especially at the early stages of the organism's development, with enhanced longevity. Implications of diets and intestinal microflora are also discussed.
Shchepinov
Mikhail S
MS
Retrotope Inc., 8 Barns Hay, Oxford, OX3 0PN, UK. misha@trdend.com
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
D007554:Isotopes