Linear association between aging and decreased blood thiol antioxidant activity in patients with cataract

We comprehensively assessed the roles of systemic redox markers by including both prooxidant and antioxidant markers in 121 Japanese subjects (mean ± SD age, 70 ± 11 years; 38 men) with no ocular pathology except age-related cataract. Serum levels of lipid peroxides, ferric-reducing activity, and thiol antioxidant activity were measured using the diacron reactive oxygen metabolite (dROM), biologic antioxidant potential (BAP), and sulfhydryl (SH) tests, respectively, using a free-radical analyzer. Univariate analyses suggested that older age, higher pulse rate, worse best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), higher intraocular pressure, and higher cataract grade were associated with a lower SH level. Scatterplots revealed virtually linear associations between age and the SH level (estimate, -4.4 μM/year). Multivariate analyses suggested that older age, higher systolic blood pressure, and worse BCVA were associated with a lower SH level. Neither the univariate nor multivariate analyses, except between female sex and higher dROM level, were associated with the dROM or BAP level. A lower serum SH level was the driver of aging itself and age-related decline in VA due to cataract. The serum SH level may be an excellent predictor of aging status in each subject.