Enzymes and survival.

Age related deficits in enzyme systems, such as those which control lipid metabolism and hence provoke cardiovascular pathologies, can be reversed by replacement therapy either by-passing the enzyme by supplying the product of its reaction or by administering the enzyme itself. There are difficulties associated with enzyme therapy associated with their high molecular weight and protein reactions. Our enzyme preparation which has been shown to be effective in modifying plasma lipid profiles in atherosclerotics, is Vasolastine. Following intramuscular administration of elderly subjects it reduces the circulating cholesterol in the 75-80 age group by 13% but at the extremes of the age range (60-75 and 80-95) increases the level by between 1.5% and 5.0%. HDL-cholesterol levels, however, are raised by 5% over the whole age range. The effect of these changes is to lower the ratio of total plasma cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol at all ages up to the end of the 9th decade by approximately 6%, whereas at ages above 80 years the enzyme preparation lowers the value of the ratio by less than 3%. Since high values of this ratio correlate with a high risk of coronary disease, it may be inferred that over the lower part of this elderly age range Vasolastine reduces the risk, whereas at higher ages when the risk in untreated subjects is lower, the protective effect of the enzyme preparation is less pronounced.