THE idea that animals live longer if they eat less is not quite correct – for fruit flies, at least. For them, it is the type of food they eat and not just its quantity that controls their longevity.
It has been known for some time that “calorie restriction” significantly lengthens the lifespan of many non-primate species, from worms to fleas to mice. Linda Partridge at University College London and her colleagues wanted to see if the effect was simply due to the reduction in total calorie intake or if particular elements of the diet were responsible.
So the researchers took…
