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Anti-aging effect of riboflavin via endogenous antioxidant in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated the effect of riboflavin on aging in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly).

Design

Experimental study.

Setting

Naval Medical Research Institute.

Participants

Fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.

Intervention

After lifelong supplement of riboflavin, the lifespan and the reproduction of fruit flies were observed. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to mimic oxidative stress damage to fruit flies and the survival time was recorded.

Measurements

The activity of copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese containing SOD (SOD2) and catalase (CAT) and lipofuscin (LF) content were determined.

Results

Riboflavin significantly prolonged the lifespan (Log rank χ2=16.677, P<0.001) and increased the reproductive capacity (P<0.01 for day 15; P<0.05 for day 30) of fruit flies by lifelong supplement. The survival time of fruit flies damaged by H2O2 was significantly prolonged (Log rank χ2=15.886, P<0.001), the activity of SOD1 (P<0.01) and CAT (P<0.01) was enhanced, and the accumulation of LF (P<0.01) was inhibited by riboflavin supplement.

Conclusion

Riboflavin prolonged the lifespan and increased the reproduction of fruit flies through anti-oxidative stress pathway involving enhancing the activity of SOD1 and CAT and inhibiting LF accumulation. Riboflavin deserves more attention for slowing human aging.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naval Medical Research Institute, 880 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, China

    Y.-X. Zou, M.-H. Ruan, J. Luan, X. Feng, S. Chen & Zhi-Yong Chu

  2. Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 818 Xingwan Avenue Wanli District, Nanchang, China

    M.-H. Ruan

Authors
  1. Y.-X. Zou
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  2. M.-H. Ruan
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  3. J. Luan
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  4. X. Feng
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  5. S. Chen
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  6. Zhi-Yong Chu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhi-Yong Chu.

Additional information

The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

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Zou, YX., Ruan, MH., Luan, J. et al. Anti-aging effect of riboflavin via endogenous antioxidant in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. J Nutr Health Aging 21, 314–319 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0752-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0752-8

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