Changes in glutathione and glutathione metabolizing enzymes in human erythrocytes and lymphocytes as a function of age of donor

Studies in animals have demonstrated that glutathione levels and the activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase decrease with advanced age in various tissues. We have examined the effects of donor age on erythrocyte and lymphocyte levels of these three parameters in human subjects. The results indicate that glutathione content, and glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities, are higher in mature middle-age than young individuals but decrease markedly in the aged. These results support the hypothesis that a decrease in glutathione content and glutathione-metabolizing enzymes may contribute to changes associated with aging as well as the increased susceptibility to carcinogens, drugs and disease which occurs with advanced age.