Journal of Insect Physiology · Oct 17, 2026

Deuterium between 31 and 1021 ppm in dietary water has no effect on lifespan in the adult housefly (Musca domestica)

By Riddle A, Hinson C, Thomson P et al.

Deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, exists naturally in the environment and body water at around 89-158 ppm. Reports of the health impacts of the level of deuterium in ingested water are often contradictory. We investigated the lifespan effects in houseflies fed diets made up with a range of deuterium, depleted or enriched relative to natural abundance water (31 ppm to 1021 ppm). Control houseflies were fed diets prepared with Aberdeen (57 oN) tap water (147 ppm). Pupae were planted individually to vials containing appropriately prepared deuterium diets. Day of eclosion, death and body weight at death were recorded. Deuterium levels of water, water from the diet and the uptake of dietary deuterium by the houseflies were confirmed using laser spectroscopy. Deuterium isotope enrichments of body water of the houseflies were correlated with the deuterium enrichment of the water in their food. However, the dietary effect was strongly attenuated. The lowest deuterium content in housefly body water was 67 ppm (for the 31 ppm water) and the highest 808 ppm for the 1021 ppm water. Levels of deuterium, between 31 and 1021 ppm, had no significant effect on lifespan, mortality risk or death body weight of the houseflies. Body weight at time of death did not vary with the levels of deuterium in either sex. In conclusion, using the housefly as a model, we did not find any support for the previous suggested impacts of deuterium content of the ingested water (between 31 and 1021 ppm deuterium) on survival or lifespan.

doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.105078PubMed 42892485Interventions