Introduction

The oxidative damage caused by free oxygen radicals is related to the aging process, some pathologies and people’s lifestyle. However, in the human body there are antioxidant enzymatic defenses that give us an adequate protection.

Objective

To determine the enzyme activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), catalase (CAT) and NADH methemoglobin reductase (NADH-MR), in a Costa Rican population of younger and older adults, in order to establish the reference range and to evaluate the effect of some conditions where oxidative damage occurs.

Materials and methods

The enzyme activity in a population of 110 individuals aged 19-95 years old was determined using the method proposed by Ernest Beutler. The population reference range was established and the effect of age, background pathologies and smoking were evaluated, using descriptive statistics.

Results

As age advances the enzyme NADH-MR and CAT decreased erythrocyte activity and G6PD presented no significant changes. Evidence of a significant change in the enzyme activity, with respect to the smoking habit and the pathological conditions, was not found.

Conclusions

It is necessary to carry out more research in terms of lifestyle and environmental factors, that influence the antioxidant enzyme activity. The size of populations, the absence of standardized methods and the conditions of the test can affect results and their degree of significance. For which methodologies should be standardized, so that in future projects the results can be evaluated according to these conditions.

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