What Is Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative Stress (OS) refers to the imbalance between oxidation and antioxidant effects in the body, which tends to oxidize, leading to inflammatory infiltration of neutrophils, increased protease secretion, and a large number of oxidative intermediates. Oxidative stress is a negative effect produced by free radicals in the body and is considered to be an important factor in aging and disease.

Oxidative stress

Evaluation method

The quantitative evaluation methods of oxidative stress are roughly divided into three categories:

1) Determination of compounds modified by active oxygen;

Since the 1970s, a large amount of data has been accumulated in biological and medical research and practice, which proves that oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (including oxygen free radicals) in the body is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases and aging An important factor is therefore valued.

There is a double close relationship between nutrition and oxidative stress. On the one hand, nutrients can produce reactive oxygen species and intermediate free radicals during metabolism in the body; transition metal trace elements such as iron ions and copper ions can promote the production of reactive oxygen species. On the other hand, balanced diet and reasonable nutrition can enhance the body's antioxidant defense function; certain nutrients and food ingredients can play an antioxidant role directly or indirectly.

Studies have shown that antioxidants can slow the harm caused by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress disrupts the potential damage caused by the balance of strong oxidants and antioxidants. The destruction of the balance of oxidants and antioxidants is the main cause of cell damage. Indicators of oxidative stress include damaged DNA bases, protein oxidation products, and lipid peroxidation products. Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS) are important intracellular signals for vascular cell growth. Oxidative stress, excessive ROS activity, and

Ergothioneine

Ergothioneine (ergothioneine, EGT) is a compound discovered in 1909. It was originally found in a fungus Claviceps purpurea. The pure product is white crystals, water-soluble, (at room temperature It can dissolve 0.9mol / L), and will not oxidize itself at physiological pH and in strong alkaline solution. It exists in two isomers, thiol and thione.

Ergothioneine is a natural antioxidant that protects cells in the body and is an important active substance in the body. Chemical synthetic antioxidants are mostly used at home and abroad, but animal tests have shown that they have certain toxicity and carcinogenic effects, while natural antioxidants are safe and non-toxic, which has become a research hotspot. As a natural antioxidant, ergothioneum has entered people's field of vision. It has various physiological functions such as scavenging free radicals, detoxifying, maintaining DNA biosynthesis, normal cell growth, and cellular immunity.

Oxidative stress lipoic acid

Alpha lipoic acid is an mitochondrial enzyme similar to vitamins that eliminates free radicals that accelerate aging and disease. Lipoic acid enters cells after being absorbed through the intestinal tract in the body. It has both fat-soluble and water-soluble properties. Therefore, it can pass through the whole body unobstructed and reach any cell site. Oxidant.

1. Lipoic acid is a B vitamin that is used in Europe to treat diabetic neuropathy or neurological complications.

2. Antioxidants are called "universal antioxidants", and they are also free-radical catchers. They are a kind of restricted essential nutrients needed by the cells of the body to generate energy by using energy substances such as sugar. Many diseases such as diabetes. It is generally believed to be able to preserve and regenerate other antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and to balance blood glucose levels. Effectively strengthens the body's immune system from the damage of free radicals. It has therapeutic effects on a variety of conditions: liver disease, diabetes, people with acquired immunodeficiency bands, AIDS, psoriasis, eczema, burns, skin cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neurological diseases, rheumatism Disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, autoimmune diseases, cataracts, other eye diseases, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, for acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatic coma, Diseases such as fatty liver.

3. A heavy metal chelator 2HLa + M2 + (divalent metal) ==== 2H + + [M (La) 4]-, the dielectric constant is very high

4. It can inhibit Alzheimer's disease. The combination of lipoic acid, a low-cost adjuvant therapeutic agent for diabetes, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors commonly used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease can effectively inhibit the onset of disease and make some patients Her condition was relieved.

5. Lipoic acid has a strong effect. It participates in energy metabolism, increases the ability of other antioxidants to destroy free radicals, promotes recovery, improves the body's ability to increase muscle mass and reduce fat, and can also increase insulin sensitivity and help creatine be introduced into muscle cells. Lipoic acid is one of seven nutrients that block aging. Can beautify, activate cells and improve hair growth.

E Oxidative stress vitamin E

Contains antioxidant food illustration Many reports focusing on in vitro studies have suggested that vitamin E, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, has antioxidant effects such as inhibiting the production of oxidized LDL, so it has high expectations for its prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. With the help of anti-oxidant effects, the results of the trials are still inconsistent with regard to the question "Can vitamin E inhibit the onset of arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease in humans?" Those who responded were the Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study (CHAOS), and those who did not, such as the Italian Clinical Trial of Venous Thrombolysis for Acute Myocardial Infarction (GISSI) and Cardiac Outcome Assessment (HOPE). Therefore, the current evaluation of these clinical trials and animal experiments can be said to be "misleading", and no final conclusion can be drawn. Some researchers have pointed out that in addition to the fact that vitamin E preparations may not be effective, it is necessary to consider factors such as the period of administration and the possibility of combining other foods with antioxidant effects. These have been the reasons why vitamin E is currently not recognized.

Another is the report of several clinical intervention trials as cancer chemoprevention. For example, in Finland, a lung cancer prevention study for smoking men was performed. Although vitamin E has no inhibitory effect on lung cancer, the incidence of prostate cancer has decreased by 32%. Of course, do not deny that this is an unexpected result, and there is an accidental element in it. Therefore, attention is currently being paid to the "clinical experiment (combination of selenium and vitamin E) with prostate cancer prevention as an end point indicator" initiated in the United States in 2001. On the other hand, there have been reports of cancer caused by vitamin E in animal experiments, so I hope to proceed cautiously in the future.

Furthermore, recent randomized controlled trials for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer have pointed out that the relative risk of total mortality when vitamin E consumption exceeds 400 IU (267 mg) / day compared to the placebo group The significance increased to 1.04 (95% CI; 1.01-1.07, P = 0.035). On the other hand, although Japan s 6th revised national nutritional requirement, the recommended intake of vitamin E is 10 mg (about 15 IU) for men and 8 mg (about 12 IU) for women, but the upper limit of allowable intake is 600 mg (about 90IU). Because this number is higher than the harmful 400 IU (about 267 mg) mentioned earlier, in the future, countries must explore the risks and benefits of applying vitamin E in healthy people in accordance with their specific conditions.

Oxidative stress carotene

Antioxidant food In recent years, as long as "chemical prevention of cancer" is mentioned, people will immediately think of "yellow-green vegetables"; when thinking of "yellow-green vegetables", "& szlig; -carotene" will emerge. & szlig; -Carotene is recognized by the general public as a "nutrition supplement" with anti-cancer effect. In addition, because of its anti-oxidant effect, people are also expected to suppress cancer. In fact, there have been reports of in vitro and animal experiments supporting the conclusion that & szlig; -carotene prevents cancer. Therefore, it is expected that chemoprevention of cancer can also be achieved in the human body. Clinical intervention experiment. However, the results have not been satisfactory: in addition to the study of Linxian County in China, in a series of studies conducted in the United States and Iceland, not only did not show the anti-cancer effect of & szlig; -carotene, but instead, "Smokers have an increased incidence of lung cancer." There are various explanations for this, including: 1) Under normal dietary conditions, it can only supplement & szlig; -carotene 5 to 10 times. Excessive amounts are harmful. 2) Compared with Chinese residents, the nutritional status of the population in Finland and the United States is relatively good, and the intake of & szlig; -carotene from food is sufficient. 3) It is not & szlig; -carotene that has anti-cancer effects, but other substances present in yellow-green vegetables. 4) Most of the patients diagnosed with lung cancer during the research process started to use & szlig; -carotene already produced cancer cells, so & szlig; -carotene instead promoted the growth of cancer cells. Based on the above, and making judgments on tests other than these clinical studies, the result should be: "In the range of low-carotene (2 ~ 3mg / day) intake through ordinary diets, cancer occurs in people who eat more. The rate is low, but if you have ingested a sufficient amount of food to some extent, no matter how much you supplement, it will not reduce the incidence of cancer.

Furthermore, the recent Meta-analysis report does not believe that "intake of antioxidant nutritional supplements such as & szlig; -carotene will reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer)" . In contrast, as a result of the combined application of & szlig; -carotene and vitamin A, or & szlig; -carotene and vitamin E, results in increased mortality. Therefore, although there has been no increase in mortality due to the application of & szlig; -carotene alone, it may be necessary to be more careful than in the past when ingesting & szlig; -carotene.

Oxidative stress polyphenols

Antioxidant food

Probably the first reason polyphenols got their attention was from French epidemiological studies. Compared to other Europeans, the French are characterized by a very low mortality rate from cardiovascular disease, although they consume almost the same animal fat. The reason is that although there are many claims, wines are mentioned in the end, especially red wines. In other words, the polyphenols contained in red wine have antioxidant effects, can inhibit the oxidation of LDL, and hope to prevent cardiovascular diseases mainly including arteriosclerosis. And it is clear that in addition to red wine, vegetables, tea, soy products and foods such as cocoa beans and chocolate also contain more polyphenols. Therefore, research has been conducted on polyphenols in various substances. At present, based on the starting point of "inhibiting arteriosclerosis through anti-oxidation", although the problem of the prevention of polyphenols has been noted, it has not yet reached the level of "this is a drug for preventing arteriosclerosis". Even for other diseases such as cancer, there is also a lack of strong evidence for clinical reference.

biopyrrin Oxidative stress biopyrrin

After stocker reported the antioxidative effect of erythrocyte metabolite bilirubin in 1987, the function of bilirubin began to be greatly rendered. It was thought that there might be a body defense substance that eliminated reactive oxygen species. Thereafter, in 1988, Shimizu et al. Discovered the oxidation metabolite bilirubin biopyrrin. It is now clear that during oxidative stress, bilirubin is converted into biopyrrin and excreted with urine. In view of this, in recent years, attention has been paid to how to use the urine output as an indicator of oxidative stress in living conditions. It has been known that biopyrrin can be increased by surgery, emotional stress, endotoxin administration, and ischemia-reperfusion.

Both high-performance liquid chromatography and ELISA methods can detect biopyrrin in urine, but related studies have not been sufficient so far. In the future, it is necessary to further explore its dynamic changes of urinary excretion.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD)

In the process of reacting hydrogen ions with superoxide to generate hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, SOD acts as a catalytic enzyme. In human mitochondria, there are SOD (MnSOD) containing manganese (Mn), and cytoplasm is SOD containing copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). It is currently believed that there are three other types of SOD that are extracellular. Although mitochondria can metabolize more than 95% of oxygen in cells, oxidative stress caused by superoxide and the like is weak due to the lack of histones there, and MnSOD will play an important role in such defense mechanisms. It has also been reported that patients with Parkinson's disease have diversified MnSOD genes, and the decrease in MnSOD activity can be seen in many genetic diseases such as congenital muscular dystrophy, especially for neurodegenerative diseases. Great attention. It has been found that in patients with diabetes, which is also a degenerative disease, the white blood cells also have low MnSOD activity.

MnSOD is different from CuSOD and ZnSOD. The former will increase expression when faced with stress. However, in humans, this effect disappears with increasing age, so it is believed that MnSOD is also related to aging. It can be seen that the significance of MnSOD is being elucidated continuously, but there are still many problems related to aging and disease. So, which diseases are directly and indirectly related to SOD expression / dysfunction? This is a subject that should be actively studied in the future.

Super Vitamin E astaxanthin

Antioxidant food Astaxanthin (English name Astaxanthin, also known as astaxanthin in Japan and Hong Kong and Macao regions) is a super natural extracellular antioxidant that was first isolated from lobster in 1938. It is also the only antioxidant that can delay the aging of organs and tissues.

In 2008, Professor Francesco Buda, a scientist at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, and members of his experimental team discovered that the reason why cooked shrimp, crabs, and so on appeared to be attractive bright red through precise quantum calculations Because shrimp and crabs are astaxanthin-rich foods, natural red substances such as cooked shrimp and crabs are astaxanthin. Astaxanthin has a survival rate and spawning rate of 550-1000 times that of tocopherol and vitamin E in biological farming (especially artificial farming of shrimp, crab, salmon, etc.), its ability to scavenge free radicals, antioxidant activity, etc. It is 1000 times of vitamin E, so it is also called super vitamin E ^[2] .

Due to the emergence of astaxanthin and the large-scale and industrial production of astaxanthin by Japan's Fuji Chemical Group Bioreal and Yamaha Life Technology, etc., Japan revised the upper limit of the allowable intake of vitamin E to 600 mg several times. Vitamin E was replaced with astaxanthin as the strongest and most effective antioxidant.

China s research on astaxanthin is 13 years behind Japan and the United States. Since 2003, countless university laboratories and enterprises have stopped research and development and production due to high technical barriers and lack of R & D funds. Jingzhou Natural Astaxanthin Co., Ltd. and other 2-3 astaxanthin companies survive the harsh winter and have a strong vitality. It is believed that in the near future, domestic astaxanthin will be widely used in the treatment of oxidative stress diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hepatitis B, cancer tumors, and gout, and it will provide a major means for treating oxidative stress diseases.