Antioxidant Lengthens Life Expectancy Tenfold

An international research team has discover that the antioxidant protein vitellogenin reduces aging in bees and increases their life expectancy "tenfold".

Antioxidant Reverses Aging in Bees

Bees can have their lives lengthened tenfold, an international research team headed by Dr. Gro Amdam at Arizona State University has found. The antioxidant protein vitellogenin reverses the aging process in some worker bees. This may eventually lead to breakthroughs in the research on aging in humans.

How do bees reverse the aging process?

The process occurs in worker bees that become nurse bees. Through the transformation process, the details of which are still sketchy, the bees experience a considerable increase in the concentration of the protein vitellogenion in their body. Vitellogenin appears to prevent and reverse oxidative stress to the bees, a process strongly associated with aging.

The team observed that worker bees, which at the start of their lives have a life expectancy of about four to six weeks, could go through a process through which they would take on the characteristics of bees that are tasked with taking care of queen bees and offspring.

During this process, the bees appeared to have their immune system completely renewed, and they would live to ages of six to ten months, up to ten times their original life expectancy. This means that they are radically revitalized, in essence having their aging process reversed.

How does this antioxidant protein vitellogenin work?

At the heart of the matter is the protein vitellogenin, which dramatically reduces the oxidative stress on the bees. Queen bees may accumulate large concentrations of the protein, and enjoy life spans of up to five years. The worker bees that go through the rejuvenation process have their antioxidant defenses boosted in the same way.

The studies supervised by Dr. Amdam show that the rejuvenated bees have considerably more of the protein in their system than ordinary worker bees. In experiments, ordinary worker bees were shown to be much more vulnerable to oxidative stress than the rejuvenated bees.

How does the antioxidant protein vitellogenin prevent aging?

Oxidation of living cells, or oxidative stress, is the process which lies behind physical aging. Through the oxidation process, the cells of the body are broken down by reactants known as free radicals.

The harmful activities of free radicals are prevented and reversed by antioxidants, compounds that absorb and neutralize free radicals.

So could this be the proverbial "Fountain of Youth"?

«There are many similarities between how bees and humans age,» she says. «Right now, we're trying to establish exactly how the bees get younger. We already know part of the answer, which is that the immune system is completely renewed and the vitellogenin level increases greatly.»

I couldn't imagine living ten times our normal life expectancy!

Of course, if this is all true, it will still take years of testing before it will be offered to the public as an anti-aging medication.


[edit on 25/8/07 by Keyhole]

reply to post by Keyhole


Thanks for the info on the bees and antioxidants. I have taken Bee pollen for years and find it very benefical to the human body. I have also found what has been referred to as a super-food a tea made from the Moringa oleifera tree. Loaded with antioxidants it is known in many circles as the Miracle tree. Here are 2 websites you can check out about the Moringa tree and the Ziga herbal tea. www.drinklifein.com
www.myzija.com/lifetree