Carotenoid, tocopherol, and retinol concentrations in elderly human brain.

摘要: BACKGROUND Antioxidants, such as tocopherols and carotenoids, have been implicated in the prevention of degenerative diseases. Although correlations made between diseases tissue levels antioxidants, to date there are no reports individual carotenoid concentrations human brain. OBJECTIVE To measure major tocopherols, retinol frontal occipital regions DESIGN Ten samples brain from lobe cortex five cadavers were examined. Sections dissected into gray white matter, extracted with organic solvents, analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS At least 16 3 present Major carotenoids identified lutein, zeaxanthin, anhydrolutein, alpha- cryptoxanthin, beta- alpha-carotene, cis- trans-betacarotene, trans-lycopene. Xanthophylls (oxygenated carotenoids) accounted for 66-77% total all Similar neural retina, ratio zeaxanthin lutein was high these two xanthophylls significantly correlated (p <0.0001). The tocopherol isomers occurred over a wider range mean (0.11-17.9 nmol/g) than either (87.8 - 163.3 pmol/g) or (1.8-23.0 pmol/g). CONCLUSIONS cortex, generally vulnerable Alzheimer's disease, had higher analytes which is unaffected. Moreover, lobes, but not exhibited an age-related decline retinol, carotenoids. importance differences role(s) antioxidants remain be determined.