Erythrocyte membrane changes associated with nutrition and aging--the role of plasmalogens

Fatty aldehyde dimethylacetals (DMA) derived from human plasma and red cell plasmalogens of 20 female and 20 male donors, aged 70 years and over, and of 17 younger ones (12 male, 5 female), were measured as part of total phospholipid fatty acid methyl esters and DMA. There were no statistically significant changes in the hexadecanal DMA fractions of erythrocyte membranes with respect to donor age. In contrast, small degrees of correlation, though statistically significant, indicate a stochastic decline with donor age of erythrocyte octadecanal DMA and of plasma-derived hexadecanal DMA and octadecanal DMA levels. It is concluded that in the context of age-related changes not only the plasmalogen content of biomembranes has to be considered. Because of the sensitivity of plasmalogens to autoxidation, effects of oxidative damage and defense on membrane architecture, the degree of plasmalogen domain formation with its implication on membrane functions and the mechanisms regulating membrane turnover have to be also assessed.