The process of ageing has been the focus of many research disciplines. A multicellular organism is kept alive through a balance of new cell production and old cell decay.
There are a number of factors ? regulating mechanisms ? controlling the whole process. Old age is characterized by certain changes as to antioxidant capacity, fatty acid metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis.
Research into these changes may help to suppress the undesirable effect of free oxygen radicals and slow down the process of ageing.