A study found that phytoene, a carotenoid, extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans and reduces Alzheimer’s-related plaque effects. Researchers are exploring its broader potential in disease prevention.
Researchers from the Color and Food Quality group at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, in partnership with Dr. Marina Ezcurra’s team at the University of Kent (UK), have demonstrated that the carotenoid phytoene extends the lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, it delays the onset of paralysis linked to amyloid plaque formation in an Alzheimer’s disease model.
Specifically, increases in longevity of between 10 and 18.6% and decreases in the proteotoxic effect of plaques of between 30 and 40% were observed. The studies, which form part of Ángeles Morón Ortiz’s doctoral thesis, tested pure phytoene and extracts rich in this carotenoid obtained from microalgae.
According to Dr. Paula Mapelli Brahm, “These are very exciting preliminary results, so we are looking for funding to continue this line of research and to find out by what mechanisms these effects are produced.”
The Importance of Caenorhabditis elegans in Biomedical Research
Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely used animal model in biomedicine. In fact, it has been instrumental in important discoveries that have been recognized with the Nobel Prize, such as programmed cell death, RNA interference, and applications of the GFP protein.
Professor Antonio Jesús Meléndez Martínez’s team has spent 15 years studying phytoene, which is found in foods such as tomatoes, carrots, apricots, red peppers, oranges, mandarins and passion fruit, among others. It is a compound that is efficiently absorbed and found in many tissues, including the skin, where studies indicate that it can protect against ultraviolet radiation.
The team works on the sustainable production of healthy foods to reduce the risk of disease, with an emphasis on the applications of carotenoids in agri-food, nutrition, and cosmetics. In this area, they have coordinated international networks in which researchers from more than 50 countries have participated.
Reference: “Phytoene and Phytoene-Rich Microalgae Extracts Extend Lifespan in C. elegans and Protect against Amyloid-β Toxicity in an Alzheimer’s Disease Model” by Ángeles Morón-Ortiz, Antonis A. Karamalegkos, Paula Mapelli-Brahm, Marina Ezcurra and Antonio J. Meléndez-Martínez, 30 July 2024, Antioxidants.
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13080931
The researchers have received funding from the Ministry of Science and Innovation – State Research Agency/10.13039/501100011033, specifically from the NEWCARFOODS-PID2019-110438RB-C21 project and the Spanish Carotenoid Network (CaRed-RED2022-134577-T). NEWCARFOODS has been developed in coordination with the group of Professor Rosa León (University of Huelva) who provided the microalgae used in the study.
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11 Comments
Good news! Phytoene is most found in highest levels in carrots, apricots, and tomatoes, but also high in oranges, and watermelon (“Assessment of Food Sources and the Intake of the Colourless Carotenoids Phytoene and Phytofluene in Spain” Nutrients, Dec 2021). These are known to be healthful foods. If you’re concerned about Alzheimer’s disease, there is now evidence to suggest that a diet high in these particular fruits and vegetables will help make sure your caenorhabditis elegans nematodes will never forget you.
Great exciting news.
I’ll stick with Good. I hope you haven’t encountered this rudy, but it’s heartbreaking when the tiny worms in your own compost can’t even recognize you anymore.
But it is good news. It’s a first step, interesting “preliminary results” as the article said. C Elegans is good as a test subject, and a useful analogue for humans, if you squint, with cataracts, and a microscope. It offers a clue that human biology might be influenced the same way. It wouldn’t be hard to translate this result into a useful cheap study on people. I’m always seeing questionable prestige studies here sponsored by government agencies like USDA, or fruit councils like Zespri or the National Watermelon Promotion Board. I’m sure a large sample pool of seniors would agree to years of free fruit in exchange for health information. It could lead to further research, carotenoid supplements, maybe even a health guideline or treatment. I looked briefly at the study, and didn’t see much to criticize.
I just worry people will see the headline, see the photo below it of the exploding bald man, and think they’ll cure their dementia living forever by only eating carrots because of invisible worms, like they do with olive oil (sorry SAWOLF, I’m kidding and I ate a little extra fruit today). The researchers did a good study, which is rare lately, and I know they would be cringing a little at the headline, and I hope they would know we do see the study for what it is and that it is good.
This was interesting and very educational
Thank you for bothering to mention that, funny this article didn’t even mention where you would get them in your diet, while repeating itself several times alsewhere. Journalism is dead.
You aren’t helping here anymore, Scott. Stop trying to divide, and read the article, it tells you exactly where to get them from. Fruits and vegetables.
Tomatoes, carrots, red peppers, watermelon are some of the foods listed in the article.
I think I am more interested here. I prefer to see and know the fruits and veggies where these nutrients could be tapped. Thanks satisfied
Never ate olive oil until it was discovered the same organism, experienced a 20% increase in lifespan from ingestion of it.
Late at night .
Awsome! This is studies may help those whose doesn’t know about nutrition value and exercises how to take advantaged. I have learned throughout my life the benefit of bephysically and mentally active. Environment is another fact to considered. We must accommodate self when come to environment. I love the outdoors and make sure I can spend a great amount of time outdoors. Therefore, I have a tendency to monitoring my habits. It seems that I am pretty consistent with my daily activities.
This studies served me a great purpose because science always try to educate people how to better self.
Thank you for those studies. Kudos ./.