Abstract
Differential antioxidant action is found upon comparison of organ/tissue systems in the human body. In erythrocytes (red blood cells), which transport oxygen and carbon dioxide through the circulatory system, the most important issue is to keep hemoglobin in a functional state that requires maintaining the haem group in ferrous (Fe2+) state. Conversion of oxidized Fe3+ back into Fe2+ in hemoglobin needs a special mechanism involving a tripeptide glutathione, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glucose and NADPH as suppliers of reducing power. Fava beans are probably a good resource to make the detox innate system more robust as the pro-oxidant molecules in this food likely induce the upregulation of members of such mechanisms. The central nervous system consumes more oxygen than the majority of human tissues, i.e., 20% of the body’s total oxygen consumption and, therefore, it is exposed to a high level of oxidative stress. This fact, together with the progressive age-related decline in the efficiency of the antioxidant defense system, leads to neuronal death and disease. The innate mechanism operating in the central nervous system is not well known and seems different to that of the erythrocytes. The strategies of antioxidant intervention in brain will be reviewed here.
Highlights
Differential antioxidant action is found upon comparison of organ/tissue systems in the human body
Other compounds that are taken by mammals are fats, for instance those in sunflower or olive oils, whose reducing potential according to rigorous chemical rules is higher than
It is tempting to speculate that consumption by healthy humans of fresh or cooked fava bean legume makes the organism to up-regulate expression of the components of the detox machinery, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) among them
Summary
Life on Earth is based on the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere and in river and sea waters. As discussed elsewhere [1] the right use of an antioxidant molecule is to preserve degradation of dead matter. This is the reason why many processed foods include antioxidant to prolong the useful life of the product, i.e., to prevent food rotting. In. Earth’s life the most used (and powerful) reducing molecule is glucose that is oxidized by the glycolytic cycle in mammalian cells. Taking chemical laws into account the intake of antioxidants at amount of 1 g per day should not have impact whatsoever in the degree of oxidation of cells in a mammal consuming a regular glucose and fat containing diet. We here use two mammalian body components, blood and central nervous cells, to review how they can be damaged by excess oxidation and what efficacious intervention might reduce oxidative exacerbation
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