X-Message-Number: 8007
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 08:44:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 5'th update on fly longevity experiments 

     This is the fifth update on my fly experiments. The day 67 census of
 the bottles from the first run found a single fly alive in each of the
 forskolin, NADH and xanthophyll bottles. All flies are dead in the alpha
 lipoic, biotin, CLA, glutamine, lycopene, pregnenolone, RNA and
 pyroglutamic bottles. I regard this first run as essentially finished.
     The preliminary results obtained in the second run were not what I
 had expected. However I have an explanation for these results, which may
 even have some human application.

 Second Run Day 11 Census
 Group           Alive/Dead Survival
 Control             5/3      63%
 Nicotinamide        6/1      86
 Coenzyme Q10        7/0     100
 Nicotinamide/CoQ10  6/1      86
 Acetylcarnitine     6/1      86
 ALC/COQ10           7/0     100
 Basil               4/1      80
 Bromelain           7/2      78
 Caraway             4/2      67
 Chlorophyll         7/0     100
 Cloves              5/1      83
 Cumin               7/0     100
 Curcumin            5/2      71
 Dextromethorphan    5/1      83
 Fenugreek           4/1      80
 Ginger              4/2      67
 Green Tea           6/0     100
 Leucoanthocyanins   6/1      86
 Mace                5/2      71
 Nutmeg              5/2      71
 Oregano             7/1      88
 Rosemary            9/1      90
 Sage                8/0     100
 Thyme               8/0     100

     Some spices with bactericidal properties maintained survival at 100%.
 Although there has been much talk about free radicals and aging, in the
 present case my guess is that it is pathogens that are proving to be the
 main longevity limiting factor. Although drosophilia medium 4-24 does
 contain a mold inhibitor, I suspect that it does not offer adequate
 protection against bacteria and viruses. When I examined the scientific
 literature on the life spans of control Oregon R drosophilia melanogaster
 flies fed medium 4-24 I found great variations. Although some experiments
 found average life spans of around 55 days at room temperature, one found
 this to be as high as 81 days. Why the variation?
     This same type of inconsistancy occurs with rodents as well. For
 example in one experiment the average life span of control Wistar rats
 was found to be 75.5 weeks, while rats that were calorie restricted lived
 138.2 weeks. (Gerontology 28: 233-241 1982) This is strong support for
 the effectiveness of caloric restriction in prolonging life span. However
 in another experiment control Wistar rats lived to an average of 133.1
 weeks, while rats that were calorie restricted after 52 weeks of age
 lived an average of 150 weeks. (Journal of Gerontology 41(1): 13-19 1986)
 Control rats live either 75.5 or 133.1 weeks for apparently no reason at
 all if pathogens are not a factor.
     Pathogens may have a significant effect on human longevity. Viruses
 can cause cancer, while some bacteria are suspected of promoting
 cardiovascular disease. Pathogens may be an primary, though indirect
 cause of age associated mortality in humans, as well as in rats and
 flies.
     One of the active ingrediants in Listerine mouthwash is thymol, which
 is derived from thyme. I am starting some new breeding bottles which
 contain added thyme to act as a bactericide. Flies that are born in these
 I will use to start my third run, which will also contain a bactericide
 (possibly thyme) in all of the bottles to give a level playing field. If
 pathogens are killing off flies prematurely I want to eliminate this
 factor before testing other things.

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=8007