Intermittent fasting

Over the course of evolution, long periods of fasting were inevitable and species have developed coping mechanisms for better survival. At the moment, most of the western world has reached a point where nutrients are abundant and excessive, leading to accumulation of metabolic problems and a rise in chronic diseases in the second half of life. Existing concepts of life- and healthspan extension promote caloric restriction and fasting as potential methods to alleviate risks of chronic diseases, activating autophagy, and regeneration. The current article describes molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the physiological effects of intermittent fasting (IF) and provides an integrated overview of existing experimental data and clinical trials. In multiple models, different modifications of IF show promising results, prolonging lifespan and improving surrogate healthspan markers. In humans IF promoted modest results in weight loss and had positive effects on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and inflammation. High quality evidence about the feasibility and long-term outcomes of IF in humans is still lacking. It remains unclear whether IF provides sustainable improvements. Further research is warranted to evaluate the optimal duration of IF, frequency of IF cycles and meal composition for the feeding intervals. The safety of IF is another major concern and so potential patient cohorts where IF might not be the best option must also be determined

Nanodelivery of phytobioactive compounds for treating aging-associated disorders

Aging population presents a major challenge for many countries in the world and has made the development of efficient means for healthspan extension a priority task for researchers and clinicians worldwide. Anti-aging properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and cardioprotective activities have been reported for various phytobioactive compounds (PBCs) including resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, catechin, etc. However, the therapeutic potential of orally administered PBCs is limited by their poor stability, bioavailability, and solubility in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, innovative nanotechnology-based approaches have been developed to improve the bioactivity of PBCs and enhance their potential in preventing and/or treating age-associated disorders, primarily those caused by aging-related chronic inflammation. PBC-loaded nanoparticles designed for oral administration provide many benefits over conventional formulations, including enhanced stability and solubility, prolonged half-life, improved epithelium permeability and bioavailability, enhanced tissue targeting, and minimized side effects. The present review summarizes recent advances in this rapidly developing research area

Mating status affects Drosophila lifespan, metabolism and antioxidant system

In Drosophila melanogaster, lifespan and fitness traits were investigated as a function of mating status. Four mating protocols were used: virgin males and females, males and females allowed to copulate only once; males and females that had multiple copulations with one partner over the 5-day mating period; and polygamous males and females that had multiple copulations with different partners over the 5-day mating period. Virgin females had the longest lifespan, and polygamous females had the shortest lifespan, potentially due to injuries, infections or exposure to toxic accessory gland products obtained from different males. Reduced lifespan was also observed in males mated to multiple females. U