A Perspective proposes that 10 known compounds - ergothioneine, pyrroloquinoline quinone, queuine, and seven antioxidant carotenoids - be classified as putative longevity vitamins due to their interaction with proteins that protect against diseases of aging; the concept is based on the Triage Theory, which classifies proteins and enzymes as either survival proteins, needed for survival and reproduction, or longevity proteins, which protect against future damage and are sacrificed in case of vitamin shortage, leading to an acceleration of insidious diseases of aging.
###
Article #18-09045: "Prolonging healthy aging: Longevity vitamins and proteins," by Bruce N. Ames.
MEDIA CONTACT: Bruce N. Ames, Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland, CA; tel: 510-450-7625, 510-549-3839; e-mail: bames@chori.org
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences