We determined approximately 15,000 laboratory values in 236 individuals between the ages of 60 and 90 y, 22 individuals between 90 and 99 y, and 69 individuals greater than or equal to 100 y, and compared these with values in young adults. We tested 47 different analytes in the 60-90-y group and 93 analytes in the greater than or equal to 90-y group. Na, K, Cl, and CO2 values were either identical or showed minimal change with age; pH decreased slightly. Differences in Ca values were only minor, but ionized Ca increased slightly.
Phosphate decreased in men, but changed only minimally in women;
parathyroid hormone increased with age. Increases with age were also observed for
glucose,
insulin, and
C-peptide. Among the
enzymes,
alkaline phosphatase increased in women, but in men only greater than 90 y;
gamma-glutamyltransferase increased in both sexes.
Creatine kinase (CK) decreased slightly in individuals greater than 70 y and markedly in those greater than 90 y of age, whereas CK-MB decreased markedly greater than 70 y, reaching the detection limit in individuals greater than 90 y.
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5 decreased slightly with age.
Urea nitrogen increased gradually with age, but
creatinine increased only in individuals greater than or equal to 90 y. The increase in
urea is not paralleled by a loss of
protein in urine, suggesting that the possible cause of
azotemia may not always be renal pathology.
Urate increased in women but not in men. Liver function, as measured by total
bilirubin and liver
enzymes, was exceedingly well maintained. Concentrations of most
proteins show little change, except for slight decreases in
prealbumin,
albumin, and
transferrin,
proteins used as an index of nutritional status.
IgA values increased,
IgG ranges were wider,
IgM and
IgD decreased, and the range for
IgE was narrower than in young adults.
Cholesterol,
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and
triglyceride values increased with age, but decreased in individuals greater than or equal to 90 y. Among the
trace elements,
magnesium changed little,
zinc and lead decreased, and
copper values increased with age. Total
triiodothyronine and
thyroxine decreased, with concomitant increases in
thyroid-stimulating hormone. More individuals had increased microsomal
antibodies and
thyroglobulin titers in the aging population than in the young. In men, the free, percent free, bioactive, and total
testosterone values decreased, but
luteinizing hormone (LH) and
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values increased. In women,
estrone and
estradiol values decreased, with concomitant increases in LH and FSH.
Androstenedione and
progesterone decreased in both sexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)