Age-dependent detection of erythrocytes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and its correlation with oxidative stress.

CONTEXT: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an important enzyme of hexose monophosphate shunt, involved in the biosynthesis of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH).

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate age-dependent changes in human erythrocyte G6PD activity. The G6PD activity pattern was correlated with reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant potential in terms of FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed normal, healthy subjects of both sexes between the ages of 20 and 80 years. G6PD activity was determined by Burties method.

RESULTS: We observe a significant age-dependent decrease in G6PD activity (p < 0.0001). It was positively correlated with GSH (r = 0.5706) and total antioxidant potential (r = 0.7723) as a function of human age.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our findings on erythrocyte G6PD and their correlation with GSH and FRAP provide evidence of a higher oxidative stress in old age population.