Oxidative damage to DNA in independent-living elderly persons and their correlations with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and functional parameters

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the correlations between oxidative DNA damage among elderly persons aged between 60 and 79 years and sociodemographic, anthropometric and functional parameters. Method: The present study has a descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional design. A group of 195 independent-living elderly persons of both genders underwent blood collection and the subsequent measurement of serum concentrations of 8-OHdG, a residue generated by the attack of reactive oxygen species to DNA. The same subjects also underwent evaluation for body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the education level of the participants was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman correlation test, adopting a 5% significance level. Result: Higher fat percentage and BMI are directly correlated with higher concentrations of 8-OHdG, while SPPB and education were inversely correlated with the concentration of this molecule in the sample. Conclusion: These results suggest factors such as lifestyle and educational level influenced oxidative DNA damage in these elderly persons and had an impact on their functional capacity.