X-Message-Number: 13212
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 20:49:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 27'th update on fly longevity experiments
This is the 27'th update on my fly longevity experiments. Run #22
investigated the effect on aging of the artichoke, and leucoselect
grape extract supplements, which had reduced ethanol induced mortality
in run #21. Also some supplements (eg sage) were retested, which had
increased longevity in earlier experiments, that had not included citric
acid to eliminate pathogen growth. I included blueberry juice as well,
since this appears to have a potent brain antiaging effect in rodents.
No benefits on 50% survivals were found, a few supplements
headed by artichoke extended maximum lifespan. This increased
maximum survival to a surprising degree, from 62 days to 95 days. I
can think of two possible explanations for this strange finding. Either
artichoke genuinely slows fly aging, or it slows fly food deterioration.
This second possibility exists due to the fact I do not change the fly
food after a run is started. Although, protein, carbohydrates, and
minerals may not deteriorate to a serious degree, in the absence
of pathogen growth, vitamins are known to be unstable in solution.
Thus it is probable that aged flies were suffering from vitamin
deficiencies. If artichoke extract somehow helped prevent the
deterioration of these vitamins, then this might account for the positive
impact on maximum survival, without any advantage on 50% survival.
The results with sage were quite disappointing, and indicate that
most of the longevity promoting effects of sage found in earlier
experiments were due to an antipathogen effect. Thus these old experiments
are of doubtful value.
Additionally this run discovered a new phenomena, which I had never
seen in any of my previous experiments. On the day 17 census the flies
in the prune juice bottle, showed almost complete absence of any movement.
They were joined on the day 24 census by flies in the blueberry bottle. I
usually had to examine the flies in these bottles under magnification to
be determine whether they were dead or alive. I speculate their extremely
low metabolic rate might be of some interest to cancer patients. Lowered
body temperature is known to inhibit tumor growth. If high doses of these
juices could lower the metabolic rate in humans, they might reduce body
temperature, and thereby extend the lives of cancer patients.
Run #22 Percent Survival on Day
supplement 17 24 30 40 50 56 62 68 73 81 86 90 95
control 76 59 59 52 14 14 7 0 - - - - -
aloe vera 450 mg 47 40 40 30 13 7 3 0 - - - - -
artichoke 250 mg 77 73 65 58 35 38 31 27 23 15 8 4 4
artichoke 500 mg 64 52 36 30 18 18 18 6 0 - - - -
blueberry juice 80 70 43 47 20 23 10 10 0 - - - -
leucoselect 100 mg 67 58 50 50 46 29 13 8 8 8 4 0 -
leucoselect 200 mg 65 41 41 35 29 29 29 24 12 0 - - -
coriander 1/16 tsp 76 52 45 41 17 14 3 3 3 3 3 3 0
hawthorn 500 mg 81 69 50 31 15 8 4 0 - - - - -
prune juice 50 42 33 17 17 8 8 0 - - - - -
royal jelly 500 mg 67 40 33 20 13 13 7 0 - - - - -
sage 1/4 tsp 29 29 29 29 14 14 14 7 7 0 - - -
E succinate 100 IU 94 72 61 39 22 11 11 11 0 - - - -
The high early survival with vitamin E succinate was mildly interesting.
So in run #23, I tested this on alcohol induced mortality. This proved to
be a dud, and I am inclined to think the good initial result in run #22 was
mere chance.
Note that once again leucoselect comes through with good results. A higher
dosage of this proved to be optimal in retarding alcohol induced mortality,
than that found to be best for anti-aging in run #22. The higher free
radical generation in alcohol stressed flies may account for this.
Run #23 Percent Survival on Day
supplement 3 5 8 12 15 21 25
wine control 93 80 60 53 7 0 -
+leucoselect 100 mg 80 70 60 50 30 10 0
+leucoselect 200 mg 100 100 83 58 25 8 8
+E acetate 100 IU 83 83 67 33 0 - -
+E succinate 100 IU 80 70 20 0 - - -
+E succinate 200 IU 100 58 0 - - - -
+E succinate 400 IU 79 64 21 0 - - -
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