Antioxidants & Phytochemicals, Diseases, Pathology 

ILSI Europe Concise Monograph Series 

Oxygen is essential to human life, without it, we cannot survive. Yet, paradoxically, oxygen is also involved in toxic reactions and is therefore a constant threat to the well-being of all living things. Human beings can tolerate oxygen only because our evolutionary ancestors developed powerful defense mechanisms that minimize its toxic effects. Without this protection, the by-products of our own metabolism would quickly end our lives.

Unfortunately, our natural defenses are imperfect; they limit the harm caused by oxygen but do not eliminate it completely. There is some evidence that as the years go by, oxygen-induced damage has been hypothesized to be a major contributor to ageing and to many of the degenerative diseases of the nervous system.

In the past decade, researchers have made major strides in understanding the link between oxygenated metabolites and human diseases. At the same time, they have learned that it may be possible to prevent postpone or limit the severity of these diseases by enhancing the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms through improved nutrition.

This monograph was inspired by a symposium held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1993, which was organized by ILSI Europe. It represents a review of current developments in this rapidly expanding field of medical research it should be noted that antioxidants are also of importance in other fields, including food technology and preservation. Scientific developments in these areas are beyond the scope of this monograph. 

RB 170 L36 1995

Oxidants, antioxidants, and disease prevention
Lillian Langseth
ILSI Europe
1995
Antioxidants--Health aspects ; Free radicals (Chemistry)--Pathophysiology ; Oxidation--Physiological
1462 MPQLdb/ 151 CAFBooks