The role of sterols in mediating the effects of dietary restriction in D. melanogaster females

This thesis examines the effects of an essential micronutrient – a fat-like molecule called cholesterol – in mediating the beneficial effects of a low protein diet on fruit fly lifespan. It shows that low protein diets extend lifespan by inhibiting reproductive output, this rescues flies from committing limited cholesterol reserves towards reproduction. In turn, if high protein diets are supplemented with cholesterol, both lifespan and reproduction can be maximised simultaneously. These findings help us to better understand how changes in diet influence lifespan.