Clinical and Biochemical Correlates of Serum L-Ergothioneine Concentrations in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the increasing interest towards the biological role of L-ergothioneine, little is known about the serum concentrations of this unusual aminothiol in older adults. We addressed this issue in a representative sample of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.MethodsBody mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum concentrations of L-ergothioneine, taurine, homocysteine, cysteine, glutathione, cysteinylglycine, and glutamylcysteine were evaluated in 439 subjects (age 55–85 years) randomly selected from the Hunter Community Study.ResultsMedian L-ergothioneine concentration in the entire cohort was 1.01 IQR 0.78–1.33 µmol/L. Concentrations were not affected by gender (P = 0.41) or by presence of chronic medical conditions (P = 0.15). By considering only healthy subjects, we defined a reference interval for L-ergothioneine serum concentrations from 0.36 (90% CI 0.31–0.44) to 3.08 (90% CI 2.45–3.76) µmol/L. Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis L-ergothioneine was negatively correlated with age (rpartial = −0.15; P = 0.0018) and with glutamylcysteine concentrations (rpartial = −0.13; P = 0.0063).ConclusionsA thorough analysis of serum L-ergothioneine concentrations was performed in a large group of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Reference intervals were established. Age and glutamylcysteine were independently negatively associated with L-ergothioneine serum concentration.

Histidine in Health and Disease: Metabolism, Physiological Importance, and Use as a Supplement

“…It has been hypothesized that ergothioneine administration may prevent tissues against oxidative damage [71] and that decreased blood plasma levels of ergothioneine have been reported in elderly [72] and Parkinson's disease [73]. Studies in animals and humans have found no toxicity, and ergothioneine has been recently approved as a nutritional supplement [74,75].…”

Could Ergothioneine Aid in the Treatment of Coronavirus Patients?

“…Indeed, low blood plasma concentrations of ET are associated with age-related disorders [ 60 , 64 , 74 ], suggesting that ET may be beneficial as a therapeutic or prophylactic supplement to reduce the risk of these disorders. Furthermore, we and others have identified that blood ET levels decline with advancing age, possibly predisposing elderly individuals to an increased risk of age-related disorders [ 60 , 72 , 75 ], which may include frailty, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative disease.…”

Cancer Chemoprevention

“…61 One of them is the ability to scavenge free radicals, which can be proposed to arise from the easy one-electron oxidation of its mercapto group to a disulfide, similarly to the main water-soluble antioxidant thiol glutathione. 62 However, ERT chemistry differs from conventional sulfur-containing antioxidants mainly because it exists as a tautomer between its thiol and thione forms, with the latter predominating under physiological conditions.…”