http://www.6zl.org ill medical treatment| Sickness to treat Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:13:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.6zl.org/effects-of-biochemical-changes.html http://www.6zl.org/effects-of-biochemical-changes.html#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:06:32 +0000 admin http://www.6zl.org/?p=21 Deviations in results (which, in many cases, were more likely the result of disease than of normal aging) were noted in 5% to 10% of the population for the following: women > 80 yr, a low hematocrit; women 65 to 80 yr, elevated calcium levels; both sexes of both age groups, reduced serum phosphate concentrations and elevated lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase levels.
Serum electrolyte values are not abnormal because of age alone. Alkaline phosphatase values approaching 140 u./L may be found in up to 5% of persons of all ages (normal = 35 to 120 u./L), but elevations may be caused by some drugs (eg, narcotics), eating a fatty meal, and bone abnormalities (including tumors, hyperparathyroidism, Paget’s disease, a healing bone fracture, osteomalacia, and renal osteodystrophy). However, the positive predictive value of an elevated alkaline phosphatase level is very low in patients with no prior diagnosis of liver disease, malignancy, or bone disease.
In patients with osteoporosis, levels of serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase and the electrophoretic protein pattern are usually normal. In patients with metastatic cancer and almost always in those with osteomalacia, alkaline phosphatase is increased. Transient increases that do not usually exceed normal limits are noted in osteoporotic women after hip fractures.
A low serum albumin level in a healthy person is usually dietary in origin and unrelated to aging. However, serum albumin tends to fall when older persons develop serious disease, especially when accompanied by undernutrition. Vitamin deficiency, except for B12, is rare in healthy ambulatory persons; studies have reported vitamin B12 deficiency in 12% of hospitalized elderly patients who have no evidence of general malnutrition.
Serum ferritin increases with age, and serum iron decreases minimally. Although fasting blood glucose increases with age, values remain within the normal range. Glucose tolerance decreases gradually with age. However, lack of exercise, obesity, and the use of some medications may be more important influences on glucose tolerance than age alone. Glucose levels are highest in the nonfasting state after a carbohydrate challenge or during a cortisone-glucose tolerance test. HDL cholesterol level tends to rise with age, as does LDL cholesterol, but this is based on values in survivors and, therefore, may not be a general aging trend.

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