Organisms Eat A Balance Diet; Example for Us

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When given a choice of diets, organisms eat a balanced diet, according to a study conducted on fruit flies. This behavior could reveal ways to treat diet-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes, say the researchers, who published their findings in the May 13, 2010 online edition of the journal Current Biology.

How an organism balances its intake of nutrients has a great impact on its health and survival," said Pankaj Kapahi, PhD, the lead author on the study. "In this study we've established a model using the fruit fly to address the question of how an organism chooses between protein and carbohydrate." He explained that poor balance between protein and carbohydrates has been implicated as a cause for both diabetes and obesity.

Fruit flies that were deprived of either carbohydrates or protein showed a strong preference for that nutrient. In addition, the sex, mating status and a key involved in nutrient sensing influenced dietary choices. The key protein, in particular, plays an important role in cancer, diabetes and aging. In addition, changes in levels of serotonin influenced the choice between protein and carbohydrate. Serotonin, a critical neurotransmitter, helps to regulate mood, appetite, sleep and cognitive function in the brain.

Dr. Kapahi and his colleagues conducted their work at the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, Ca.