Diet and ageing: critical influence of genotype and gene expression profile

Ageing is a complex process controlled both by environmental and genetic factors. Among the environmental factors, oxidative stress is known to be an important contributor to cellular senescence. On the other hand, genotypes coding for a pro-inflammatory profile are negatively associated with longevity. The balance between external and internal or deleterious and protective influences might result in the determination of mean life span for the different species of living organisms. In experimental model organisms, the ageing process is recognised to be modulated by nutritional manipulation. By means of controlled dietary restriction, an extension of life span has been well described in short-lived rodents and more recently reported in yeast, nematode, fruitflie, fish and primates. The putative mechanisms by which dietary control acts on the ageing process are discussed.