Lifestyle, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Back and Forth in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases

Mehdi Sharifi‐Rad ,Marcello Iriti,Daniela Calina,Luciana Dini,Manisha Nigam,Letizia Polito,Elena Azzini,Paolo Zucca,Youssef El Rayess,Ilaria Peluso,Miquel Martorell,William N Setzer,Elena Maria Varoni,Marc El Beyrouthy,Natália Martins,Abhay Prakash Mishra,William C Cho,Anca Oana Docea,Patrick Valère Tsouh Fokou ,Jovana Rajković ,Anil Kumar N ,Elisa Panzarini Panzarini ,Javad Sharifi‐Rad

doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00694

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Long term exposure to increased levels of pro-oxidant factors can cause structural defects at a mitochondrial DNA level, as well as functional alteration of several enzymes and cellular structures leading to aberrations in gene expression. The modern lifestyle associated with processed food, exposure to a wide range of chemicals and lack of exercise plays an important role in oxidative stress induction. However, the use of medicinal plants with antioxidant properties has been exploited for their ability to treat or prevent several human pathologies in which oxidative stress seems to be one of the causes. In this review we discuss the diseases in which oxidative stress is one of the triggers and the plant-derived antioxidant compounds with their mechanisms of antioxidant defenses that can help in the prevention of these diseases. Finally, both the beneficial and detrimental effects of antioxidant molecules that are used to reduce oxidative stress in several human conditions are discussed.

Highlights

Many natural biological processes in our bodies, such as breathing, digesting food, metabolize alcohol and drugs, and turning fats into energy produce harmful compounds called free radicals
The main criticism of the review is that the data were extracted from meta-analyzes and not from individual studies, but this can be considered an advantage because meta-analyzes provide the highest degree of evidence
We are talking about a balance and not a negative role attributed to free radicals and a positive one to antioxidants

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Many natural biological processes in our bodies, such as breathing, digesting food, metabolize alcohol and drugs, and turning fats into energy produce harmful compounds called free radicals. In pathological or stress conditions, ROS overwhelms antioxidant systems leading to an imbalance, which, in turn, causes oxidative stress and irreversible changes in cell compounds, including proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, in addition to being able to disrupt normal cellular-signaling mechanisms (Birben et al, 2012; Zal et al, 2014; Salehi et al, 2018; Sharifi-Rad et al, 2018). The increase in ROS levels, its production in inappropriate cellular compartments or its production with defective forms during oxidative processes can trigger the development of numerous chronic-degenerative disorders, leading to severe damage to bio macromolecules (Chen et al, 2012; Gandhi and Abramov, 2012; Salehi et al, 2018). Increased generation of reactive oxygen species, decreased activity of antioxidant systems or both mechanisms may be involved in the occurrence of oxidative stress (Karam et al, 2017). A study even suggsted that vitamin E supplements increase the risk of prostate cancer by 17% compared to a placebo (Klein et al, 2011)

Findings

DISCUSSION

CONCLUDING REMARKS AND PERSPECTIVES