THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIETARY INTAKE AND GLUTATHIONE IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Glutathione is an important cellular antioxidant. This study evaluated the association of diet intake and brain glutathione levels in living subjects. A Block food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging were used to measure dietary intake and brain glutathione levels for two groups of elderly subjects, one group with early stage Alzheimer's disease (n=23) and a second age-matched control group (n=21). The average age was 73.4 ± 5.5 years and 63% male. There was no significant difference in brain glutathione levels between the two groups. Stepwise regression analysis of diet intake and brain glutathione levels showed a direct relationship between specific nutrients: positive relationship with potato and dairy servings, cysteine, retinol and vitamin B12; negative relationships with meat servings, riboflavin, vitamin D and calcium supplements. This study investigating diet and brain glutathione levels in living subjects support previous study results showing specific nutrients are associated with brain glutathione levels.