Aging, resting metabolic rate, and oxidative damage: results from the Louisiana Healthy Aging Study.

BACKGROUND: The aging process occurs at variable rates both among and within species and may be related to the variability in oxygen consumption and free radical production impacting oxidative stress. The current study was designed to test whether nonagenarians have a relatively low metabolic rate and whether it is associated with low levels of oxidative stress relative to age. METHODS: Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and markers of oxidative stress to lipids, proteins, and DNA were measured in three groups of individuals aged 20-34 (n=47), 60-74 (n=49), and>or=90 years (n=74). RESULTS: RMR, adjusted for fat-free mass, fat mass, and sex, was lower in both older groups when compared to the young group (p