Sex-specific effects of cereal-based diets on longevity and healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster

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Abstract
Cereal grains contain bioactive compounds that may influence longevity. We investigated the effects of 20 cereal varieties on longevity and healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster, including triticale, bread wheat, durum wheats, ancient wheats, and regional varieties. Cereal-based diets exhibited sex-specific differences relative to cereal-free controls: females showed 3–13% longer lifespans while males exhibited reduced lifespans by up to 19%. In females, clear patterns were observed: pronounced lifespan differences (3–11% longer than controls) were concurrent with higher thermotolerance, while moderate lifespan differences (2–6% longer than controls) were associated with greater oxidative stress resistance and locomotor activity, but lower starvation resistance than controls. Males demonstrated higher stress resistance than controls despite shortened lifespan. Gene expression analysis revealed that female-specific lifespan differences were concurrent with elevated expression of immune-related genes (AttA, CecA1, DptA). These results suggest cereal-mediated longevity differences operate through sex-specific physiological pathways involving trade-offs between stress resistance and metabolic regulation.

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