Antioxidant status in patients with Parkinson's disease

In order tb determine the antioxidative status in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and the activity of antiox idant enzymes were measured in 26 PD patients (13 male, 13 female, mean age of 70 old) as well as the age- and sex-matched control subjects. All subje cts were resided in Taipei area. There was no significant difference in pla sma concentrations of vitamins A, C, and E between the 2 groups. However, t he antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxida se (GSHPx), and the total antioxidant status (TAS) were significant lower i n the PD patient group than those in the control group (P < 0.001). Patient s in advanced stage had significantly lower SOD activity than did early -st age patients (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between the severity or d uration of Parkinson's disease and concentrations of antioxidant vitamins a nd other parameters. Only SOD activity was negatively correlated with the s everity of PD (r = -0.59, P < 0.05), but it was not related with age or dur ation of the disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.