Better understanding the exposome in order to maintain human health

Abstract

Cumulative exposure to environmental factors and chemicals can be damaging to human health. A new concept called the exposome refers to the totality of exposures and their impact on health. Professor Yukiko Minamiyama, Food Hygiene and Environmental Health Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, is exploring how lifestyle factors could reduce exposure and maintain human health and also how certain lifestyle changes could control or avoid chronic oxidative stress. She and her team are delving deeper into the concept of the exposome and chronic oxidative stress to enhance understanding and facilitate informed, beneficial changes for humankind. Minamiyama is collaborating with a leading researcher on oxidative stress Dr Toshikazu Yoshikawa, Dr Hiroshi Ichikawa of Doshisha University School of Life and Medical Sciences and Dr Shigekazu Takemura of Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine. Minamiyama and the team believe controlling free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can prevent or improve diseases. Although food additives are unavoidable, Minamiyama believes that consuming antioxidants could help reduce oxidative stress and disease. In one study , the researchers investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of food additives on the male rat brain and sperm/testes, with an emphasis on oxidative stress and found that the food additive stevioside induced ROS production in sperm and resulted in sperm dysfunction. They also discovered that treatment with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol significantly improved oxidative stress.