American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 63, 985S-990S, Copyright © 1996 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

REVIEW ARTICLES

Oxidative damage and defense

RA Jacob and BJ Burri
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Western Human Nutrition Research Center, San Francisco, CA 94129, USA.

Increased production of reactive oxygen species is a feature of most, if not all, human disease, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Dietary antioxidants may be especially important in protecting against human diseases associated with free radical damage to cellular DNA, lipids, and proteins. Ascorbic acid is an effective water-soluble antioxidant, and epidemiologic studies suggest that increased ascorbate nutriture is associated with reduced risk of some degenerative diseases, especially cancer and eye cataracts. Population studies have also shown that high vitamin E intakes are associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease, possibly as a result of inhibition of atherogenic forms of oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Recent data suggest that beta-carotene provides protection against lipid peroxidation in humans, as well as provitamin A activity. Yet, present data are not sufficient to quantitate micronutrient requirements needed to protect against oxidative damage. The antioxidant roles of many food constituents, such as polyphenols, have not been clarified. Most antioxidants can act as prooxidants under certain conditions, and more research is needed to determine the occurrence and importance of this in vivo. The few controlled intervention trials carried out so far have shown mixed results as to the potential of antioxidant supplements for reducing the incidence of chronic diseases. Definitive recommendations on antioxidant intakes for disease prevention must await evidence from controlled studies and intervention trials, some currently in progress. Overall, the present data suggest that protection against oxidative damage and related disease is best served by the variety of antioxidant substances found in fruit and vegetables.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. T. Alpert New and Emerging Theories of Cardiovascular Disease: Infection and Elevated Iron Biol Res Nurs, July 1, 2004; 6(1): 3 - 10. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Bhattacharya, R. A. Lawrence, A. Krishnan, K. Zaman, D. Sun, and G. Fernandes Effect of Dietary n-3 and n-6 Oils with and without Food Restriction on Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in Livers of Cyclophosphamide Treated Autoimmune-Prone NZB/W Female Mice J. Am. Coll. Nutr., October 1, 2003; 22(5): 388 - 399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. G. A. Van Hoydonck, E. H. M. Temme, and E. G. Schouten A Dietary Oxidative Balance Score of Vitamin C, {beta}-Carotene and Iron Intakes and Mortality Risk in Male Smoking Belgians J. Nutr., April 1, 2002; 132(4): 756 - 761. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Kasvosve, J. R Delanghe, Z. A. Gomo, I. T Gangaidzo, H. Khumalo, M. R Langlois, V. M Moyo, T. Saungweme, E. Mvundura, J. R Boelaert, et al. Effect of transferrin polymorphism on the metabolism of vitamin C in Zimbabwean adults Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2002; 75(2): 321 - 325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Sugawara, M. Kushiro, H. Zhang, E. Nara, H. Ono, and A. Nagao Lysophosphatidylcholine Enhances Carotenoid Uptake from Mixed Micelles by Caco-2 Human Intestinal Cells J. Nutr., November 1, 2001; 131(11): 2921 - 2927. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Wright and P. D. Swan Optimal Exercise Intensity for Individuals With Impaired Glucose Tolerance Diabetes Spectr, April 1, 2001; 14(2): 93 - 97. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H Zeisel Is there a metabolic basis for dietary supplementation? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 507S - 511. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J Evans Vitamin E, vitamin C, and exercise Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 647S - 652. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W.-H. Chao, E. W. Askew, D. E. Roberts, S. M. Wood, and J. B. Perkins Oxidative Stress in Humans during Work at Moderate Altitude J. Nutr., November 1, 1999; 129(11): 2009 - 2012. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. H Haddad, J. Sabate, and C. G Whitten Vegetarian food guide pyramid: a conceptual framework Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 1999; 70(3): 615S - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Kustermann, J. Seelig, and B. Kunnecke Ascorbic acid, a vitamin, is observed by in vivo 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of rat liver Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 1998; 274(1): E65 - E71. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. B. Beckman and B. N. Ames Oxidative Decay of DNA J. Biol. Chem., August 8, 1997; 272(32): 19633 - 19636. [Full Text] [PDF]