OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE ELDERLY

Objectives: Determine the oxidative stress status and its significance in elderly subjects. Methods: Six parameters marking oxidative stress evaluated in 52 elderly patients (mean age 85+/- 6 years; range 74 to 98) admitted to a medium-term and long-term nursing home (n = 30) or a hospital ward (n = 22) were compared with those in 30 disease-free y oung subjects (age range 20-40 years), Plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactiv substances vitamin E and selenium and activity of free-r adical protective enzymes (erythrocyte superoxide dismu tase, plasma a nd erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase) were assessed. Results: Thiobar bituric acid reactiv substances were higher and superoxide dismutase, erythrocyte and plasma glutathione peroxidase, and plasma selenium wer e lower in elderly patients than in young controls. There was no diffe rence in vitamin E levels. In the nursing home population, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase was correlated with erythrocyte glutathione pero xidase and vita min E, plasma glutathione peroxidase with erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, vitamin E and selenium and erythrocyte glutath ione peroxidase with vitamin E. Only the correlation between erythrocy te and plasma glutathione peroxidase was found in the hospitalized pop ulation, These levels remained unchanged for a 30 day period in indivi dual patients. Conclusion: ''Oxidative stress'' assessed by six parame ters was thus observed in the elderly population and could be consider ed as a ''bioiogical marker of ageing''. Supplementation with selenium or other anti oxidants could be proposed.