Antioxidants and their implication in oral health and general health

Abstract

Introduction: Oxygen is extremely crucial for the existence of higher organisms. As the saying goes too much of even the best is awful. High and soaring concentration of oxygen are found to be toxic, and can damage tissues. Free radicals can adversely alter lipids, proteins and DNA and have been implicated in aging and in number of human diseases. Lipids are highly prone to free radical damage resulting in lipid peroxidation that can lead to adverse alterations. Free radical damage to protein can result in loss of enzyme activity. Damage caused to DNA, can result in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Nature has endowed us with protective antioxidant mechanisms from many dietary components. Thus, a greater consumption of fruits and vegetables should be encouraged as they are the natural sources of these chemopreventive antioxidants with other protective factors.