title: Relationship between aging and susceptibility of erythrocytes to oxidative damage: in view of nutraceutical interventions.
abstract: Twelve (12) healthy elderly subjects were divided into two groups: (a) those given an antioxidant/NO-modulating fermented papaya preparation (FPP) 9 g/day for 4 weeks, and (b) a placebo group. No protein/lipid distribution in erythrocytes (RBC) membranes was noted among different ages and treatments. Higher RBC concentration of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide synthase were found in the elderly (p < 0.05 versus "young" controls), whereas superoxide dismutase was unaltered. Such abnormalities were prevented by FPP supplementation (p < 0.01). RBC and RBC ghosts showed an enhanced susceptibility to lipid peroxidation by using cumene hydroperoxide (p < 0.01 versus young) but FPP supplementation significantly protected intact RBC (p < 0.05). These preliminary data suggest that nutraceuticals with antioxidant/NO-regulating properties significantly protect from RBC oxidative damage, and are potential weapons for the aging process and chronic and degenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: GAIA Age-Management Foundation, Pavia, Italy. fmarchimede@libero.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavasuthipaisit
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albergati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marandola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029441:Carica; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol