Low-iron diet may extend worm lifespan through stress response pathways

Twenty-six bacterial mutants were identified that enhance host lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

• Mutant diets induce oxidative stress and activate the mitochondrial unfolded protein response.
• Antioxidant supplementation eliminates lifespan extension, indicating oxidative stress drives the observed effects.
• The oxidative stress response regulators SKN-1, SEK-1, and HLH-30 are necessary for lifespan extension.
• Reduced iron availability is linked to the lifespan extension effects, as iron supplementation reverses these changes.
• Iron chelation replicates the pro-longevity effects of the bacterial mutant diets.

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