Serum oxidative and antioxidant parameters in a group of Italian patients with age-related maculopathy

doi:10.1016/S0009-8981(02)00056-6

Clinica Chimica Acta

Volume 320, Issues 1–2, June 2002, Pages 111-115

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-8981(02)00056-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: 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. Design and 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 β-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.

Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration is a late stage of ARM that usually affects people 60 years of age or older and is an important cause of blindness in industrialised countries [1]. The aetiology of this disease is multifactorial with well established risk factors i.e. age (>60 years), genetic, hypertension, cigarette smoking and a low plasma concentration of antioxidants [2], [3], [4]. Female sex, exposure to sunlight, light-colored iris, cardiovascular diseases, diet and alcoholism have also been associated with ARM [1], [4].

There is no effective treatment for ARM. Therefore, the identification, in a given population, of lifestyle-related risk factors is the only strategy available to slow the progression of the disease.

No reports are until now present in literature concerning Italian ARM subjects so, the aim of this study was to investigate the plasma biochemical antioxidative potential and the oxidative status of Italian ARM patients at either the “early” or the “late” stage of the disease [5] and to compare the result with findings obtained in a control group similar for age, sex and life-style, in order to identify risk factors for the disease or for its progression.

Section snippets

Subjects

One hundred consecutive subjects recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology of the Second University of Naples, Faculty of Medicine, entered the study. All subjects gave their written informed consent to the study which was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty. Participants underwent a clinical examination, and preliminary exclusion criteria were diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and alcoholism (i.e., diseases that could affect oxidative

Results

Control subjects were divided into two groups: young controls and old controls whose mean ages (59 and 73 years, respectively) were comparable to the mean ages of early and late ARM patients (63 and 72 years, respectively). All biochemical comparisons were performed both on the two initial groups and on the four age-based groups (early ARM versus young controls and late ARM versus old controls).

Considered globally, the mean values of oxidative and antioxidant parameters did not differ between

Discussion

Age-related maculopathy seems to result from cumulative oxidative insults, and antioxidants seem to exert a protective effect against this disease [12]. The prevalence of ARM increases with age, and dietary habits, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer have been related to risk for ARM [13]. We have examined serum antioxidant and oxidative parameters in a small group of ARM patients from the Campania area and in a control group from the same area of comparable age, similar dietary habit

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Pietro Esposito for technical assistance and Jean Ann Gilder for editorial revision of the manuscript. Standards (both external and internal standards) for carotenoids measurements were partially donated by Hoffman-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland. Supported by grants POP (1998–1999) and Legge 41 (1996–1998) from the Regione Campania.

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Clinica Chimica Acta

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Subjects

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

References (17)

Further evidence for an association of ABCR alleles with age-related macular degeneration

Am. J. Hum. Genet.

An international classification and grading system for age-related maculopathy and age-related macular degeneration: the International ARM Epidemiological Study Group

Surv. Ophthalmol.

Identification of cis-carotenoids in human sera analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection

J. Chromatogr.

Risk factors of age-related maculopathy in a population 70 years of age or older

Ophthalmology

Serum beta carotene, alpha tocopherol and age-related maculopathy: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

Am. J. Ophthalmol.

Lutein and zeaxanthine in the eyes, serum and diet of human subjects

Exp. Eye Res.

Age-related macular degeneration

N. Engl. J. Med.

Evaluation of the G protein coupled receptor-75 (GPR75) in age related macular degeneration

Br. J. Ophthalmol.

Cited by (44)

Lutein and zeaxanthin

The Role of Nutrition in Age-Related Eye Diseases

Macular xanthophylls, lipoprotein-related genes, and age-related macular degeneration

Trace Elements, Vitamins, and Lipids and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Overview of the Current Concepts on Nutrients and AMD

Nutritional modulation of age-related macular degeneration

Nutrition and eye-related disorders