ABSTRACT
Studying human pituitaries obtained at autopsy, Gough observed that the silver nitrate reaction was strong in the young and the middle aged, in whom the general body nourishment was normal, but the reaction was less in the aged and in those who died after a long illness. Yavorsky et al. analyzed extracts of finely ground human tissues obtained within 24 h of death; dichloroindophenol titration revealed that tissue ascorbic acid (AA) levels decreased with age. Patnaik cites the theory of Bjorksten and Andrews in which aging involves cross-linkage of proteins; Patnaik suggests that decreased storage of ascorbic acid may be related to such changes. Tappel's daily diet for slowing the clock of aging includes 0.5 to 1 g of vitamin E, 200 mg of vitamin C, 1 g of methionine, and also hydroxytoluene. Radiation damage seems to be like an accelerated version of the aging process; it also is believed to be due to peroxidation.
