Dietary lipoic acid supplementation can mimic or block the effect of dietary restriction on life span

Dietary restriction feeding extends survival in a range of species but a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanism is lacking. There is interest therefore in identifying a more targeted approach to replicate this effect on survival. We report that in rats dietary supplementation with alpha-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mechanisms of ageing and development 2008-06, Vol.129 (6), p.341-348
Main Authors: Merry, Brian J., Kirk, Austin J., Goyns, Malcolm H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Feed
Animals
Antioxidant
Biological and medical sciences
Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing
Dietary restriction
Dietary Supplements
Energy Intake
Epigenetic
Food Deprivation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Life Expectancy
Lipoic acid
Longevity
Male
Models, Statistical
Rats
Thioctic Acid - metabolism
Thioctic Acid - therapeutic use
Time Factors
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
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Summary:Dietary restriction feeding extends survival in a range of species but a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanism is lacking. There is interest therefore in identifying a more targeted approach to replicate this effect on survival. We report that in rats dietary supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid, has markedly differing effects on lifetime survival depending upon the dietary history of the animal. When animals are switched from DR feeding to ad libitum feeding with a diet supplemented with alpha-lipoic acid, the extended survival characteristic of DR feeding is maintained, even though the animals show accelerated growth. Conversely, switching from ad libitum feeding a diet supplemented with alpha-lipoic acid to DR feeding of the non-supplemented diet, blocks the normal effect of DR to extend survival, even after cessation of lipoic acid supplementation. Unlike the dynamic effect of switching between DR and ad libitum feeding with a non-supplemented diet where the subsequent survival trajectory is determined by the new feeding regime, lipoic acid fixes the survival trajectory to that established by the initial feeding regime. Ad libitum feeding a diet supplemented with lipoic acid can therefore act as mimetic of DR to extend survival.
ISSN:0047-6374
1872-6216
DOI:10.1016/j.mad.2008.04.004