Evaluating The Effects Of Metabolic Activity On Aging

Abstract

Five strains of mice were used in metabolic studies measuring oxygen consumption to determine if aging rates were affected according to the free radical theory of aging. The strains were the C57BL/6, DBA/2J, B6D2F1, B6 OB/OB, AND BALB/cJ. Oxygen consumption was higher in all strains, except the BALB strain, in the mice that were food restricted. This refutes the theory that food restriction reduces metabolic rate thus lowering oxygen consumption. Possible explanations are included.