Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) thrive on oxidative stress, an imbalance of reactive oxygen species. This review delves into the crucial interplay between antioxidant enzymes and dietary antioxidants
Understanding these interactions is key to developing effective preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Compounds found in our diets and within our bodies, help protect cells from oxidative stress, a harmful condition caused by an imbalance between harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s defence system.
When oxidative stress becomes overwhelming, it contributes to the development of serious health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer, and liver and kidney diseases.
Antioxidants role in protecting our bodies
Antioxidants work in two ways: enzymatically and non-enzymatically.
Non-enzymatic antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and polyphenols neutralise ROS or help regenerate the body’s enzymatic antioxidants.
Enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), are essential in maintaining the body’s defence system against oxidative damage.
These enzymes neutralise ROS, reducing their harmful effects on cells, tissues, and organs.
There’s a distinctive synergy in how antioxidants interact with enzymes. Vitamin C can regenerate vitamin E after neutralising ROS, ensuring a sustained defence against oxidative damage.
Certain compounds like melatonin boost the activity of antioxidant enzymes, amplifying the body’s ability to combat oxidative stress.
The impact of oxidative stress on health
Oxidative stress is a key contributor to many non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.
The effects of oxidative stress include damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids and activating inflammatory pathways that disrupt normal cellular function.
In cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), antioxidants such as flavonoids and vitamins C and E help enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reducing vascular damage and lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension. In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, antioxidants help protect neurons from oxidative damage, improving brain function and slowing the progression of these debilitating conditions.
Oxidative stress and cancer
Cancer cells often exploit the body’s antioxidant pathways to survive in a stressful, oxidative environment. While antioxidants can protect normal cells from damage, in some cases, excessive antioxidant activity in cancer cells may help them evade treatment. Targeting antioxidant enzymes like SOD and GPx in tumour cells could make them more sensitive to treatments like chemotherapy, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.
Managing diabetes and organ diseases
In diabetes, oxidative stress contributes to complications such as neuropathy and nephropathy.
Polyphenols and flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants, have been shown to enhance the activity of enzymes like SOD and catalase, improving insulin sensitivity and reducing the oxidative damage associated with diabetes.
For liver and kidney diseases, oxidative stress leads to inflammation and tissue damage. Therapeutic approaches involving antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, help mitigate disease progression by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity in these organs.
Future approaches to oxidative stress
Researchers are actively exploring new ways to harness antioxidant-enzyme interactions for disease management. One promising strategy involves using dietary antioxidants, like polyphenol-rich foods, vitamins C and E, and flavonoids, to support the body’s antioxidant defences.
Pharmacological agents that activate Nrf2, a key protein that regulates antioxidant responses, are showing promise in reducing oxidative stress and the associated damage.
In more advanced treatments, gene therapy could modulate the expression of antioxidant enzymes, providing a personalised approach to diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. These innovations hold the potential to not only slow disease progression but also to offer more effective, targeted therapies for those suffering from chronic conditions.
