蔓越莓可能有助於延年益壽

Cranberries have antioxidant properties that can prolong life when taken at any stage of life, suggests a study to be published in the February 2014 issue of Experimental Gerontology.
將於2014年2月發表在《實驗老年學》(Experimental Gerontology)上的一篇文章指出，蔓越莓由於具有抗氧化性，無論在人生的哪個階段食用，都有助於延年益壽。

Studies of antiaging compounds have shown that some are effective at certain stages of life but can be harmful in others, researchers said.
研究人員說，對抗衰老成分的研究表明，有些成分在人生的某些階段有效，但在另一些階段可能是有害的。

Experiments at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore tested cranberry supplements on Drosophila, a type of fruit fly commonly used in biological research studies. Groups of 100 to 200 flies in separate vials were fed a high-sugar diet supplemented with 2% cranberry extract during the flies' three biological stages -- a health span, a transition span and a senescence span, according to the researchers. In humans, the stages correspond to young adulthood, middle and old age. Control flies didn't receive the extract.
位於巴爾的摩的美國國家老齡化研究所(National Institute on Aging)測試了蔓越莓補充劑對果蠅的效果，果蠅是生物學研究常用的實驗材料。研究人員說，每組數量在100至200只的果蠅被裝在不同的瓶子裏，在它們的三個生物期（健康期、過渡期和衰老期）內被飼以高糖飲食並添加2%的蔓越莓提取物。這些時期在人類身上對應的是青年、中年和老年。對照組的果蠅沒有接受蔓越莓提取物。

The flies were transferred to new vials between stages and the number of dead flies recorded at each transfer until all flies were dead.
這些果蠅從一個階段到另一個階段時會被轉到新的瓶子裏，每次轉移都會記錄死去的果蠅數量，直到所有果蠅死亡。

Flies on the cranberry supplement during the health stage lived 25% longer than controls, on average. In the transition and senescence phases, the supplement extended the average life span of the remaining flies by 30% compared with controls.
在健康期攝取了蔓越莓補充劑的果蠅壽命平均比對照組長25%。在過渡期和衰老期，這種補充劑讓存活果蠅的壽命比對照組長30%。

Analysis of proteins from the flies' heads found that cranberry supplementation at all three stages reduced cellular damage caused by oxidative, or environmental, stress and appeared to alter molecular pathways involved in oxidative stress responses. Researchers noted cranberries are especially rich in phytochemicals, which are healthy, plant-based compounds.
對果蠅頭腦的蛋白質進行的分析發現，所有三個階段攝入的蔓越莓補充劑都減少了因氧化應激或環境壓力造成的細胞損傷，並且似乎改變了氧化應激反應所涉及的分子路徑。研究人員指出，蔓越莓尤其富含植物素，這是一種有益健康、基於植物的化合物。

Caveat: The research hasn't been proven in human subjects.
注意：這項研究尚未經過人體試驗證實。

Title: Lifespan extension by cranberry supplementation partially requires SOD2 and is life stage independent
研究主題：蔓越莓補充劑延長壽命部分需要超氧化物歧化 (SOD2)，並且不受生命階段影響