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Relationship Between Aging and Susceptibility of Erythrocytes to Oxidative Damage: In View of Nutraceutical Interventions

F. MAROTTA, K. PAVASUTHIPAISIT, C. YOSHIDA, F. ALBERGATI, and P. MARANDOLA

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 nitricoxide 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.

img_clinicaldata2.gifG.A.I.A., Age-Management Foundation, Pavia, Italy;
Institute of Science & Technology, Mahidol University, Thailand;
ORI Bioscience Lab., Gifu, Japan.

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