Nutritional influence on cellular antioxidant defense systems

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 1066 - 1081
• Main Author: Chow, Ching K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1979
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biotransformation; Carbohydrate Metabolism; carbohydrates; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane - physiology; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Fats; Fats - toxicity; Free Radicals; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Glutathione Reductase; Glutathione Reductase - metabolism; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lipid Metabolism; lipids; Liver; Liver - metabolism; metabolism; Minerals; Minerals - metabolism; nutrient intake; nutritional status; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; oxygen; Peroxides; Peroxides - metabolism; Peroxides - toxicity; physiology; proteins; Proteins - metabolism; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Superoxides; Superoxides - toxicity; toxicity; vitamin E; Vitamin E - physiology; Vitamins; Vitamins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/32.5.1066

Oxygen is necessary for normal metabolic reactions, but it can also react with cellular components to cause degradation or inactivation of important molecules. The susceptibility of a given tissue to oxidative stress is a function of overall balance between the degree of stress and the antioxidant defense capability. The major antioxidant defense system appears to function by scavenging free radicals and singlet oxygen with vitamin E and superoxide dismutase. The reduction of hydroperoxides by catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity is closely related to dietary proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, and all are involved in the cellular antioxidant defense. Nutritional status may modify antioxidant defense capability and the subsequent susceptibility to oxidative stress. Current research is reviewed; since the cellular reductive mechanisms differ from tissue to tissue and from species to species, further study is required