Measurement and quantification of 17 ketosteroid-sulfates as a biomarker of biological age

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method for using the measurement of total urinary 17 KS-S, referred to herein as the urinary Anabolic/Catabolic Index (ACI), as part of a biomarker for biological age.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for determining the biologic age of a person comprising: 
 a) determining the anabolic/catabolic index (ACI) of a population of individuals of different ages whereby standard ranges of ACI are quantified for various age groups; and    b) determining the ACI of said person and comparing this value with said standard ranges of ACI for various age groups, whereby said person's biological age may be determined;    whereby said ACI is determined by the ratio of total urinary 17 ketosteroid sulfate levels (17-KS-S) over total urinary creatinine levels.    
     
     
         2 . A method for monitoring the effects of a medical treatment on the biological age of a person comprising: 
 a) determining the anabolic/catabolic index (ACI) of said person prior to initiation of said medical treatment;    b) initiation of said medical treatment; and    c) determining the ACI of said person at predetermined times during and subsequent to said medical treatment, whereby the ACI levels reflect the biological age of said person as a result of said medical treatment;    whereby said ACI is determined by the ratio of total urinary 17 ketosteroid sulfate levels (17-KS-S) over total urinary creatinine levels.    
     
     
         3 . A method of identifying medical treatments that effectively lower the biological age of treated individuals comprising: 
 a) determining the anabolic/catabolic index (ACI) of a population of individuals prior to initiation of a preselected medical treatment;    b) initiation of said medical treatment to at least a portion of said population of individuals; and    c) determining the ACI of said population of individuals at predetermined times during and subsequent to said medical treatment, whereby the effect on the ACI of each individual reflects the biological age of said individuals;    whereby said ACI is determine by the ratio of total urinary 17 ketosteroid sulfate levels (17-KS-S) over total urinary creatinine levels.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a portion of the said population of individuals is not subjected to said medical treatment, and the differences in ACI levels in individuals receiving said medical treatment is compared to the differences in ACI levels in individuals not receiving said medical treatment to determine if the medical treatment is statistically significantly lower of the biological age of treated individuals.  
     
     
         5 . A method for the measurement of total urinary 17 ketosteroid sulfate (17-KS-S) levels comprising: 
 a) elution of a sample containing 17-KS-S through a reverse phase cartridge;    b) filtration of the material eluted from the reverse phase cartridge;    c) separation of the filtered material; and    d) analyzing the separated material of step c) by mass spectrometry.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said reverse phase cartridge is selected from the group consisting of a C4, C8, C12 and C18 cartridge.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separation is performed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the HPLC is performed using a chromatography column selected from the group consisting of a normal phase column, a reverse phase column and a gel filtration column.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said urine sample can be collected at any specified time.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said time is selected from 24 hours after treatment or between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separation is performed by gas chromatography (GC).