Table 1 Studies that have evaluated the association between age and human ADSC and adipocyte functionality (ordered by sample size)

van Harmelan et al. 2003 [34]

2

189

Elective breast reduction procedure

100%

16–73

-

No significant correlation between age and ADSCs per gram of tissue

No significant correlation between age and ADSC differentiation

Faustini et al. 2010 [29]

2

125

Donor sites varied by gender. Men had more resected samples; women had more lipoaspirates

70%

15–87 (51.31)

-

No significant correlation between age and ADSC yield (stratified by gender)

-

Yu et al. 2010 [36]

2

64

Elective liposuction surgery or abdominoplasty

90.6%

18–66 (43.6 ± 11.1)

-

No significant correlation between age and ADSC yield

-

Madonna et al. 2011 [42]

2

52

Patients undergoing abdominal surgery with varying cardiovascular history

38%

68 ± 13

40–54 (12)

55–65 (18)

66–92 (22)

Significant negative correlation between age and ADSC yield (subset matched for co-morbidities)

Harris et al. 2010 [30]

2

50

Lipoaspirate from abdomen in patients undergoing elective vascular procedures Multiple co-morbidities

36%

59 ± 16

<70 (35)

>70 (15)

No significant correlation between age and ADSC yield

No significant correlation between ADSC differentiation and age

Alt et al. 2012 [38]

2

40

Adipose tissue from healthy donor tissue

-

15–71

<20 (15)

30–40 (17)

 > 50 (8)

Significant negative correlation between age and ADSC yield

Significant negative correlation between age and ADSC proliferation and differentiation rate

Mojallal et al. 2011 [31]

2

42

Elective liposuction—abdomen

100%

27–71

-

No significant correlation between age and ADSC yield and proliferation

-

Choudhery et al. 2014 [37]

2

29

Lipoaspirate from healthy men and women

69%

24–67

<30 (8)

35–50 (10)

 > 60 (11)

Significant negative correlation between donor age and ADSC yield

Significant negative correlation between age and ADSC proliferation rate Adipogenic differentiation was independent of age

Osteogenic and chondrogenic potential decreased with age

Hauner et al. 1989 [121]

2

27

Subcutaneous tissue from patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery

37%

20–83

-

Significant negative correlation between age and ADSC yield (in both genders)

Significant negative correlation between age and ADSC proliferation (in both genders)

de Girolamo et al. 2009 [122]

2

26

Lipoaspirate from healthy women

100%

21–68

<35 (12) 

> 45 (14)

Significant positive correlation between age and ADSC yield

Proliferation rates higher in younger women but not statistically significant No significant impact of age on adipogenic differentiation potential

Significant negative correlation of age with osteogenic potential

Padoin et al. 2008 [32]

2

25

Elective liposuction—multiple donor sites

100%

21–37 (30.7 ± 4.3)

-

No significant correlation between age and ADSC yield

-

Geissler et al. 2014 [27]

2

24

Lipoaspirate from healthy women. Multiple donor sites

100%

25–71 (51)

≤45 (9)

 ≥ 46 (15)

Analyses stratified by donor site: Abdomen: younger women showed significantly higher yield Flanks: older women had significantly higher ADSC yield

-

Aust et al. 2004 [28]

2

18

Elective liposuction

87.5%

20.5–29.3 (24.9 ± 2.7)

-

No significant correlation between age and ADSC yield

-

Schipper et al. 2008 [33]

2

12

Lipoaspirate from body-contouring surgery in previously obese patients

100%

25–60

25–30 (3)

40–45 (4)

55–60 (5)

Higher proliferation of ADSC and lower susceptibility to apoptosis in 20 year old group (not statistically significant)

Yoshimura et al. 2006 [35]

2

-

-

100%

21–59

-

No significant correlation between ADSC yield and age

-

Zhu et al. 2009 [43]

2

-

Lipoaspirate from multiple donor sites

100%

20–58

-

-

Slower rate of proliferation with increasing age (not statistically significant) Significant decrease in osteogenic potential