Comparison of antioxidant status between young adults and elderly citizens of Giessen, Germany

Abstract

Thesis abstract: Introduction: Since the begining of 20 th century the percentage of elderly people has been increasing worldwide, firstly in developed countries, and more recently also in developing ones (WHO,1998). To understand the progressive changes in body composition with ageing, the physiologial processes behind these changes and also the nutritional needs of the elderly are fundamental steps to promete the quality and duration of this growing age group. Ageing is accompanied by a progressive increase in free radical production or/and a progressive decrease in antioxidant protection (Bunker, 1992). Oxidantive processes have been implicated in aging and it has been proposed that antioxidants may have beneficial effects on cognitive functions in the elderly (Carr and Frei, 1999). The free radical theory of ageing suggests that progressive defects in protection against free radical reactions allow tissue damage to occur (Bunker, 1992). An antioxidant is any substance that, when present at low concentrations compared with those of an oxidizable substrate, significantly delays or prevents oxidation of that substrate (Bunker, 1992). Vitamin E, vitamin C, the vitamin A precursor, B-carotene and selenium, are the four dietary antioxidants recognized and accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Carr and Frei, 1999). The purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant profile in two differents age groups. Crossectional data from Giessener Senioren Langzeitstudie (GISELA study) and the Nutrition and health examination study of young adults (NHESYA) were compared. The objectives were to know if old and young people differ in their intake of antioxidants, if there are serum alterations due to aging and if plasma antioxidans are influenced by intake. For these purposes, the intake and plasma concentrations of the 4 above mentioned antioxidans, were analyzed and compared with other studies in the field.