Effect of vitamin E on life span, malondialdehyde content and antioxidant enzymes in aging Zaprionus paravittiger.

Zaprionus paravittiger fed with vitamin E supplemented diet (1, 5 and 10 micrograms/ml) showed an increase in median and maximum life spans. Further increase in concentration accelerated the mortality rate. Females exhibited longer life span as compared to males. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase) were measured in control and optimum concentration of vitamin E (5 micrograms/ml)-fed flies at various age intervals. MDA content showed an increase with age in control and vitamin E-fed group whereas catalase and proxidase activities showed a decrease with age. The females exhibited lower MDA content and higher activities of catalase and peroxidase as compared to males in control and vitamin E group. Vitamin E feeding caused a significant decrease in MDA and increase in catalase and peroxidase activities. These findings suggest that vitamin E has dose-dependent and sex-specific influence on longevity of Z. paravittiger and support the view that longevity and activity of antioxidant enzymes are positively linked.