Serum oxidative and antioxidant parameters in a group of Italian patients with age-related maculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to measure the oxidative and antioxidant biochemical parameters in the serum of Italian patients with age-related maculopathy (ARM) and in a similar age control group from the same area, in order to determine the weight of oxidative status as risk factor in the early stage of macular degeneration onwards.


METHODS
Forty-eight ARM patients (19 early and 29 late form) and 46 normal subjects, similar for age, sex and life-style, were studied. A series of serum and/or plasma antioxidants (vitamins C, E, A, total and individual carotenoids, zinc, total plasma antioxidant capacity--TRAP) and oxidative parameters (reactive oxygen metabolites--ROM, oxidized-low-density lipoprotein antibodies-anti-Ox-LDL) were evaluated in both groups, also with regard to age and disease stage.


RESULTS
Levels of vitamins C, E, total carotenoids and beta-cryptoxanthine were lower in late ARM than in early ARM (p<0.05). Of the serum carotenoids investigated, only lycopene was lower in the two ARM forms than in controls (p<0.05). The main biochemical parameters, TRAP, zinc, anti-Ox-LDL and ROM were similar in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A deficit of antioxidants (vitamins C, E and carotenoids) seems to be associated with ARM in Italian patients, particularly the advanced form, it is also suggested that in ARM patients macular susceptibility to oxidative damage is not related with age.
Simonelli
Francesca
F
Dipartimento di Clinica Oculistica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, II Università di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Zarrilli
Federica
F
Mazzeo
Salvatore
S
Verde
Vincenza
V
Romano
Nicola
N
Savoia
Marcella
M
Testa
Francesco
F
Vitale
Dino Franco
DF
Rinaldi
Michele
M
Sacchetti
Lucia
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016877:Oxidants / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants