X-Message-Number: 20010
Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2002 14:12:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 66'th update on fly longevity experiments

    This is the 66'th update of my fly longevity experiments. Average
temperature was 22.3 C during this run. Here I take a look at various
dosages of paprika, and glucose. [Extra water was added to the glucose
supplemented bottles, so as to avoid dehydration stress.] With the good
previous results from freeze concentrated elderberry juice in mind, I now
try freeze concentrated boysenberry juice. I also check out a rather
expensive supplement called citrulline, which is an effective
extracellular antioxident of known low toxicity.
    No supplement increased maximum lifespan in this run, which is
consistant with merely an anti-pathogen effect of the supplements. Freeze
concentrated boysenberry juice did well, as expected. Increasing the
dosage of glucose from 2 to 4 tsp added no additional benefit.
    Citrulline added to glucose also offered no conclusive benefit. This
result runs counter to free radical theories of "aging" (whatever that
means), at least as it is applied to the extracellular space. It is
interesting than in mammals all non-mitochondrial free radical theories of
"aging" have been largely falsified. (see Archives of Biochemistry and
Biophysics 373(1): 295-301 January 2000 "The Reductive Hotspot Hypothesis:
An Update")
    The null result with paprika was something of a surprise. Since the
paprika was from an old, opened container, the paprika may have oxidized
somewhat. The effect of paprika freshness will be tested in the next run.

Run #66                   Percent Survival on Day
supplement            10 18 26 36 43 49 56 64 73 82
___________________________________________________
control               65 65 53 18  6  6  6  6  6  0
boysenberry FC        89 85 78 56 37 30 26 15  0  -
glucose 2 tsp         91 65 48 35 22  4  0  -  -  -
 +citrulline 1/16 tsp 89 78 72 28 17  6  6  6  6  0
 +citrulline 1/8 tsp  88 64 52 24 12  4  4  0  -  -
 +citrulline 1/4 tsp  89 82 50 29 18 18 11  5  0  -
glucose 4 tsp         84 59 43 30  8  3  3  3  0  -
paprika, old 1/16 tsp 66 19 16 16  6  3  3  0  -  -
paprika, old 1/8 tsp  81 73 69  8  4  4  0  -  -  -
paprika, old 1/4 tsp  65 60 35 15 15 10 10  0  -  -

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