Age-associated analysis of oxidative stress parameters in human plasma and erythrocytes

Oxidative damage accumulation in macromolecules has been considered as a cause of cellular damage and pathology. Rarely, the oxidative stress parameters in healthy humans related to the individual age have been reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the redox status in plasma and erythrocytes of healthy individuals and determine correlations between these parameters and the aging process. The following parameters were used: malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PCO), 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (HNE), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and uric acid (UA) in blood and plasma samples of 194 healthy women and men of ages ranging from 18 to 84 years. The results indicate that the balance of oxidant and antioxidant systems in plasma shifts in favor of accelerated oxidation during ageing. That is demonstrated by increases of MDA, HNE, GSSG and by the slight decrease of erythrocytic GSH with age. As the content of UA is more determined by metabolic and nutritional influences than by the balance between prooxidants and antioxidants there was no significant age-related change observed. For plasma concentrations of HNE the first time age-dependent reference values for healthy humans are presented.