Cardiovascular disease and oxidative stress are involved in aging. Aging causes many alterations in myochardial functions and metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aging on heart functions, total antioxidant capacity and membrane lipid composition and the effects of oral administration of ginger and lipoic acid for 30 days. The levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and heart antioxidant capacity exhibited marked alterations in normal senile female

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... ts. The treatment of ginger and lipoic acid for 30 days improved these alterations. Furthermore, the relationship between membrane lipid composition and aging was detected. There were significant increases in lauric and myristic acids and significant decrease in arachidic acid in senile rats. On the other hand, the unsaturated fatty acids (olic, linoleic, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly decreased. Ginger treatment showed significant decreases in saturated fatty acids. In lipoic acid treated group, there was a significant improvement in the level of unsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) as compared with normal senile female rats. In conclusion, ginger and lipoic acid may have ameliorative effect of heart functions, total antioxidant capacity and membrane free fatty acids in old female rats.