Age-dependent increases in oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins in human skeletal muscle

A role for oxidative damage in normal aging is supported by studies in expe rimental animals, but there is limited evidence in man. We examined markers of oxidative damage to DNA, Lipids, and proteins in 66 muscle biopsy speci mens from humans aged 25 to 93 years. There were age-dependent increases in 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (OH(8)dG), a marker of oxidative damage to DNA, in malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, and to a lesser extent in protein carbonyl groups, a marker of protein oxidation. The incre ases in OH(8)dG were significantly correlated with increases in MDA. These results provide evidence for a role of oxidative damage in human aging whic h may contribute to age-dependent losses of muscle strength and stamina. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.