Physical activity alters antioxidant status in exercising elderly subjects

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sports Nutrition
• Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

• Health-promoting lifestyles involve nutritional adequacy and physical activity.
• Antioxidant nutrient requirements for exercising elderly (EE) individuals are not well understood.
• Exercise may alter antioxidant status and fail to balance age-related oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if exercise training affects antioxidant vitamin and trace element status in elderly subjects.
• To determine if EE subjects can balance age-related increases in oxidative stress.
• To explore specific antioxidant requirements for aging athletes.

Main Methods:

• Compared 18 EE (68.1±3.1 years) with sedentary elderly (SE), exercising young (EY), and sedentary young (SY) groups.
• Collected 7-day food and activity records for all participants.
• Analyzed blood samples for selenium (Se) status, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, oxidized glutathione, plasma total thiol, and plasma carotenoid concentrations.

Main Results:

• EE subjects showed similar Se status but higher GSH-Px activity compared to EY and SE groups.
• EE subjects had higher blood oxidized glutathione and lower plasma total thiol than EY subjects.
• Despite higher vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene intakes, EE subjects had the lowest plasma carotenoid concentrations, especially beta-carotene.

Conclusions:

• Exercising elderly individuals do not exhibit adaptive mechanisms to counteract age-related oxidative stress, despite high antioxidant micronutrient intake.
• GSH-Px activity regulation differs between training and aging responses.
• Aging athletes may have specific antioxidant requirements, with a notable need for carotenoids.