Dietary restriction affects antioxidant levels in rat liver mitochondria during ageing

Abstract Six experimental groups of young (7-month-old) and aged (24–32-month-old) rats, underwent different dietary manipulations (i.e. dietary restriction and/or a vitamine E-depleted diet), and their liver mitochondria were assayed for several antioxidants and peroxidation markers. Glutathione levels were affected both by age and dietary treatment. Coenzyme Q 9 and CoQ 10 showed the highest levels in the oldest rats where ageing, as well as other oxidative stresses, could induce ubiquinone biosynthesis.