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Biomarkers of oxidative stress are significantly elevated in Down syndrome
Jovanovic SV, Clements D, MacLeod K.. Free radical biology & medicine, 1998-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
There is convincing epidemiological and in vitro evidence of chronic oxidative stress in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). These individuals develop Alzheimer like changes in the brain in their 30s and 40s. The incidence of autoimmune diseases and cataracts is significantly increased, and the overall ageing process is accelerated. In vitro studies show that impaired viability of DS neurons may be amended by simple chemical antioxidants, such as vitamin E, BHT and propyl gallate, clearly indicative of oxyl radical involvement. However, because of the lack of in vivo experiments, the role of oxidative stress in DS remains controversial. We report here on the results of the chemical analyses of urine samples of 166 individuals, where DS subjects were matched by their siblings. The levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (2.35 +/- 1.69 in DS vs. 1.35 +/- 1.04 in controls, P = 0.00011), a biomarker of oxidative damage to DNA, and malondialdehyde (0.255 +/- 0.158 in DS vs. 0.204 +/- 0.128 in controls, P = 0.033), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, are significantly elevated in individuals with DS. Dietary influences failed to show any significant correlation with the oxidative stress biomarkers. These results provide direct evidence for increased oxidative stress in individuals with DS.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Jovanovic, S. V., Clements, D., & MacLeod, K. (1998). Biomarkers of oxidative stress are significantly elevated in Down syndrome. Free radical biology & medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00137-3
Vancouver
Jovanovic SV, Clements D, MacLeod K. Biomarkers of oxidative stress are significantly elevated in Down syndrome. Free radical biology & medicine. 1998. doi:10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00137-3. PMID: 9870557.
BibTeX
@article{jovanovic1998-9870557,
author = {Jovanovic, S. V. and Clements, D. and MacLeod, K.},
title = {{Biomarkers of oxidative stress are significantly elevated in Down syndrome}},
journal = {Free radical biology \& medicine},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00137-3},
pmid = {9870557},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00137-3}
}
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Key findings
- The incidence of autoimmune diseases and cataracts is significantly increased, and the overall ageing process is accelerated.
- We report here on the results of the chemical analyses of urine samples of 166 individuals, where DS subjects were matched by their siblings.
- The levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (2.35 +/- 1.69 in DS vs. 1.35 +/- 1.04 in controls, P = 0.00011), a biomarker of oxidative damage to DNA, and malondialdehyde (0.255 +/- 0.158 in DS vs. 0.204 +/- 0.128 in controls, P = 0.033), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, are significantly elevated in individuals with DS.
- Dietary influences failed to show any significant correlation with the oxidative stress biomarkers.
- These results provide direct evidence for increased oxidative stress in individuals with DS.
Why it matters
In urine samples from 166 people, this study found significantly elevated markers of oxidative damage to DNA and lipids in those with Down syndrome compared with their siblings. It provides evidence of increased oxidative stress but does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Participants166
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record and institution's track record, so those were left out: it earned 44 of the 93 points we could judge it on, which is 47 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Free radical biology & medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Free Radical Biology and Medicine: journal h-index 378 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1998 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 166 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 185 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.2 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 12 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author K. R. Macleod holds only 5 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 0 institution(s) in 0 countries — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9870557) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 44 / 93 | Scored on 18 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 44 of the 93 points we could judge it on is 47 out of 100. |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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