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Noninvasive quantification of ascorbate and glutathione concentration in the elderly human brain
Author(s) -
Emir Uzay E.,
Raatz Susan,
McPherson Susan,
Hodges James S.,
Torkelson Carolyn,
Tawfik Pierre,
White Tonya,
Terpstra Melissa
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
nmr in biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1099-1492
pISSN - 0952-3480
DOI - 10.1002/nbm.1646
Subject(s) - glutathione , physiology , oxidative damage , respiration , endocrinology , medicine , oxidative phosphorylation , human brain , chemistry , oxidative stress , biochemistry , anatomy , psychiatry , enzyme
In this study, ascorbate (Asc) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations were quantified noninvasively using double‐edited 1 H MRS at 4 T in the occipital cortex of healthy young [age (mean ± standard deviation) = 20.4 ± 1.4 years] and elderly (age = 76.6 ± 6.1 years) human subjects. Elderly subjects had a lower GSH concentration than younger subjects ( p < 0.05). The Asc concentration was not significantly associated with age. Furthermore, the lactate (Lac) concentration was higher in elderly than young subjects. Lower GSH and higher Lac concentrations are indications of defective protection against oxidative damage and impaired mitochondrial respiration. The extent to which the observed concentration differences could be associated with physiological differences and methodological artifacts is discussed. In conclusion, GSH and Asc concentrations were compared noninvasively for the first time in young vs elderly subjects. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.