Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master of Pain Medicine

Anti-Oxidants

Bottom Line: Important for health, but not necessarily obtainable from a bottle,as they act in concert. Ongoing research around the world.

We obtain our energy from the oxidation of food. (oxidative phosphylation ). Energy is transferred from food covalent bonds to energetic phosphate compounds (ATP,CP). These become the internal currency for energy transfer. Oxygen is reduced to carbon dioxide. In this process, many unstable intermediate or divergent entities are produced. These Reactive Species (Free Radicals,plus) have the capacity to damage our healthy components if not carefully regulated.
Many disease are thought to arise from dysregulation of tissue oxidation/reduction (REDOX ). To be more precise, dysregulation favours OXIDATION. Thus there has been a focus on anti-oxidant status.
Anti-oxidant activity is important in every cellular compartment, such as nucleus,mtochondria,membranes,cytosol

Oxidant Stress can create
1. Premature Aging
2. Heart Disease
3. Cancer
4. Poor Infection Resistance
5. Neurological impairments (Alzheimers, demetia)

AgentPhysiology	Actions
Cholesterol	Also anti-infective
Vitamin E	Lipid compartment
Vitamin A	Synergistic with VitE (carotenoids as a type of vitA may also be anti-oxidant)
Selenium (GPX)	Reduces peroxides along with Glutathione as partner
Vitamin D	Also believed to be an anti-oxidant
Vitamin C	Soluble compartment
LDL lipoprotein	Main blood transporter of Selenium,VitaminE
Zinc/Copper (Zn/Cu)	Active in Cytosolic SOD (Super Oxidase Dismutase)
Manganese (Mn)	Active in Mitochondrial SOD
Iron (Fe)	Active in Catalase (deactivates hydrogen peroxide)
Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinol)	CoQH2 reduces lipid peroxide radicals Also regenerates Vitamin E
Niacin (A, B group vitamin	Regenerates Glutathione Also regenerates Vitamin C
Glutathione	Regenerates Vitamin E Regenerates Vitamin C
Uric Acid	Scavenges hydroxyl radicals

Reactive Species
1. Hydroxyl Radical
2. Superoxide Radical
3. Peroxide (Fatty acid or Hydrogen)
4. Nitrogen Reactive species

Most Important Enzymes
1. SOD (zinc,copper,manganese )
2. Catalase (iron )
3. Glutathione Peroxidase GPX (selenium dependant)
4. Reduced Glutathione GSH2
5. Reduced Vitamin E (EH)
6. Reduced Vitamin C (AH2 ascorbate )

Oxidised Components (No reliable clinically available test as yet )
1. Lipids (F2 isoprostanes )
2. Proteins (TBARS )
3. DNA

(to be continued)