Oxidative stress and exceptional human longevity: Systematic review
Ángel Belenguer-Varea Free Radical Biology and Medicine Volume 149, March 2020, Pages 51-63
Highlights
• Longevity is associated with lower damage secondary to oxidative stress.
• Long-lived individuals show higher resistance to oxidative stress in lipids.
• Different antioxidant profiles may be related with longevity.
• These findings might support free radical theory of frailty.
• More studies with better designs are needed.
Objective
Oxidative stress (OS) has been previously linked to the aging process, as have some diseases and geriatric syndromes as frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review on oxidative stress activity and extreme longevity in humans.
Methods
We conducted a systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines. Observational studies assessing OS-biomarkers and/or antioxidants in long-lived individuals (97 years old or over) comparing them to those of one or more age groups, (at least one of which from comprising elderly subjects) were considered for inclusion.
Results
After screening and eligibility phases, 12 articles were finally selected, with 646 long-lived participants and 1052 controls, 447 adults (20–60 years old) and 605 elderly individuals (over 60 years old). The average score on NOS scale of studies was 4,8 out of 9. Centenarians showed significantly less (p<0,05) oxidative damage to lipids in different samples, lower levels of oxidized proteins in plasma and lower superoxide anion levels in neutrophils than elderly groups. Centenarian presented significantly lower superoxide dismutase and higher glutathione reductase activities, higher levels of vitamins A and E, lower of coenzyme Q10, and lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation than elderly controls.
Conclusion
Based on studies of medium-low quality, available evidence suggests that long-lived individuals display less oxidative damage, particularly lower plasma lipid peroxidation biomarkers, than controls. More studies with better experimental designs are needed.