New Study Confirms Role of Antioxidents in Slowing AgingAccording to a report dated 6 May 2005 in Scientific American.com, Researchers from the University of Washington used genetic engineering to produce mice that have high levels of catalase. Catalase removes hydrogen peroxide from cells, a source of oxygen free radicals. Mice with high levels of catalase in their mitochondria lived 20% longer than control animals. The animals with extra catalase had healthier heart tissues, and showed fewer mitochondrial DNA mutations than the control mice. "This study is very supportive of the free-radical theory of aging," Rabinovitch says. "It shows the significance of free radicals, and of reactive oxygen species in particular, in the aging process." Animals that has extra catalase in other parts of the cell (rather than the mitochondria) also had longer lifespans than control animals, but the difference was less pronounced. This confirms the importance of mitochondria in the aging process, and their susceptibility to free radicals. Note that earlier studies of anitoxidents have had mixed results, and it is not at all clear that supplements have the desired effect. Results have been more positive when foods laden with antioxidents have been used than with antioxident vitamin supplements. |
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