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One from the bizarre dept: Nestlé claims to have a drink that can reverse the effects of ageing in both people and pets (WO 02/071874). The aim is to compensate for underperforming mitochondria, the tiny “powerhouses” that live in most cells. As we age, the mitochondria suffer oxidative damage, causing physical damage to the body.

Starving in middle age may help – but that’s an unpopular idea. Nestlé says its new drink mimics the effect of starvation, without starving. Acetyl-L-carnitine, a substance that makes mitochondria produce more ATP (the fuel that powers cells), is mixed with a cocktail of…

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