Table 3.

Expected changes with age in total amino acid content (D+L) and amino acid racemization (D/D+L)

	Total amino acid (D+L) with age	Ratio D/D+L with age
Anabolism	Slight increase	Slight decrease
Catabolism	No change	Slight increase
Anabolism = Catabolism	No change	Slight decrease
Theoretical normal cartilage aging	No change	Moderate increase
Swelling and/or glycosaminoglycan increase	Slight decrease	No change
Normal articular cartilage results	No change	Moderate increase
Osteoarthritic articular cartilage results	No change	No change
Osteoarthritic meniscal cartilage results	Slight decrease	No change
Dentin results	No change	Large increase