Gene polymorphisms of oxidative stress enzymes: prediction of elderly renutrition.
BACKGROUND
The free radical theory of aging suggests that damage caused by oxidative stress leads to impaired physiologic functions. This damage is stemmed by an adequate antioxidant status, which minimizes the occurrence of infection, thus potentially playing a role in improving nutritional status. The role played by genetic factors remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of a gene coding for endogenous antioxidant enzymes could influence either nutritional status or renutrition process in an elderly population.


METHODS
Nutritional and inflammatory status were studied in 77 elderly outpatients and in 99 malnourished elderly inpatients over 6 wk of health care treatment. Renutrition efficiency was evaluated with use of the ratio between initial transthyretinemia and 6-wk variation. A genetic study was performed on superoxide dismutase (Ala-9Val), glutathione peroxidase (Pro197Leu), and catalase (from promoter to the first intron).


RESULTS
Among the SNPs studied, the G-844A, A-89T, and C-20T catalase SNPs could each be markers predicting renutrition efficiency. These catalase mutant alleles were associated with a lower efficiency of renutrition in malnourished elderly subjects, regardless of initial nutritional and inflammatory status. Genotyping one of these catalase SNPs could make it possible to identify a high-risk subpopulation of mutant allele carriers within the elderly polypathological population.


CONCLUSIONS
In a malnutrition setting, this subpopulation should be given personalized health care, including a strengthened refeeding program. Thus, catalase genotyping could enable earlier recovery of satisfactory nutritional status and thus avoid the consequences of malnutrition, which are especially deleterious in the elderly.
Fabre
Emmanuelle E
EE
Biochemistry Department, Charles Foix Hospital, AP-HP, Ivry sur Seine, France.
Raynaud-Simon
Agathe
A
Golmard
Jean-Louis
JL
Hebert
Marylise
M
Dulcire
Xavier
X
Succari
Monique
M
Myara
Jacques
J
Durand
Dominique
D
Nivet-Antoine
Valerie
V
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase