Affiliations: [a] Institute of Physiological Chemistry I, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany | [b] Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Perugia University Hospital, Perugia, Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: M. Cristina Polidori, Institute of Physiological Chemistry I, Heinrich-Heine University, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Tel.: +49 211 8115358; Fax: +49 211 811 3029; E-mail: polidori@uni-duesseldorf.de.
Abstract: Oxidative stress is believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Plasma concentrations of vitamins C, A and E, of uric acid, thiols and carotenoids were lower and of malondialdehyde (MDA) higher in 35 AD patients (85.9 ± 5.5 y) compared to 40 controls 85.5 ± 4.4 y) . Differences were significant for vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, lycopene, α-carotene and MDA (p < 0.001). Plasma exposed to peroxyl radicals showed a rate of antioxidant consumption and of MDA production higher in AD patients than in controls. AD in advanced age is accompanied by a poor plasma antioxidant status and increased plasma lipid peroxidation, as well as by a low resistance to peroxyl radical exposure.
