Oxidative Stress Is Not The Culprit In The Aging Process

June 1, 2010: 04:54 PM EST

The theory that our lives are shortened by oxidative stress to our tissues seems to be untrue, according to a new Canadian study that should surprise antioxidant advocates. The findings suggest that a slower rate of living coupled with a reduction in energy metabolism is enough to increase lifespan, even without any reduction in oxidative stress. The scientists induced DNA changes in worms, then checked to see if the altered worms had a slow rate of metabolism. They identified the mutations that caused the change: ten were involved in metabolism. Amazingly, the slow-metabolism worms did not show less oxidative stress and had a longer lifespan. "We hope our study will help in tempering the undue emphasis put on the notion that … antioxidants could combat aging," one author said.

Jeremy Michael Van Raamsdonk, Yan Meng, et al., "Decreased Energy Metabolism Extends Life Span in Caenorhabditis elegans Without Reducing Oxidative Damage", Genetics, June 01, 2010, © Genetics Society of America

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