Increased susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation by gamma-radiolysis with age

The susceptibility to oxidation of freshly isolated LDL from healthy normolipidemic individuals in three age groups was estimated by exposure of LDL to ionizing radiation followed by analyses of vitamin E, TBARS, conjugated dienes, and fluorescent products, The results clearly showed that LDL from elderly subjects was the most susceptible to oxidative damage in vitro. In particular, the greater susceptibility of LDL from elderly subjects in comparison to that from young subjects may be attributed to the much lower (4-fold) concentration of LDL vitamin E in the elderly subjects, The present study reinforces the notion that the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation increases with age.