STATUS OF LIPIDS, LIPID-PEROXIDATION, AND ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEMS WITH VITAMIN-C SUPPLEMENTATION DURING AGING IN RATS

Molecular mechanisms responsible for age-dependent deterioration of bi ochemical functions remain unclear. We determined the effect of ascorb ic acid supplementation (20 mg/100 g body weight/day) in young and age d rats for 15, 30, and 60 days. In the aged animals cholesterol, trigl ycerides, phospholipids, and lipid peroxidation were considerably high , whereas, antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione pe roxidase, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol were low. A dministration of ascorbic acid reverted these age-associated differenc es to the status comparable to young rats.