title: Antioxidant micronutrients improve intrinsic and UV-induced apoptosis of human lymphocytes particularly in elderly people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging and oxidative stress may lead to enhanced cellular damage and programmed cell death. To study the association of intrinsic apoptosis with age and the effect of antioxidant supplementation on intrinsic and UV-induced apoptosis in children, young and elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a 2 months, double-blind, randomized trial. Three age groups were studied: children, young adults and elderly people. A total of 274 healthy subjects were allocated to a group supplemented with moderate amounts of retinol, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and selenium or placebo. Plasma oxidative stress parameters were detected and apoptosis of lymphocytes was evaluated with TUNEL staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, percentages of intrinsic apoptosis were 13.8% and 11.1% in elderly and young people, respectively, both significantly higher than children (6.3%). A decrease of 1.7% and 2.3% in intrinsic apoptosis of lymphocytes was found in the supplemented groups of young and elderly people compared with their control groups (all p values <0.001), but no significant decrease in children. Moreover, percentages UV-induced apoptosis significantly decreased by 1.4%, 1.9% and 3.1% in children, young and elderly people, respectively, compared with control groups after the trial. There were considerable increments in concentrations of plasma β-carotene, retinol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid and selenium in all three treated groups after the supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young and elderly people have a higher intrinsic apoptosis than children, which was improved by antioxidant supplementation. UV-induced damage was attenuated by the supplementation in all three age groups.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Human Nutrition, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China. aiguom502@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: X X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D012643:Selenium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid