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What are Free Radicals and Why should they be Important to me? |
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| What are Free Radicals? | When the antioxidant systems of the body are overwhelmed, free radicals stabilize themselves by stealing electrons from chemically stable compounds, often causing the generation of more free radicals, which react further with other compounds, causing yet more damage. These split second chain reactions spread throughout the body, attacking vulnerable sites in the cells and causing damage that can result in chronic disease. | ||||||||||
| Free radical damage: | Free radical attacks on DNA, which is the genetic material of
the cells, cause cells to die or mutate and possibly become
cancerous. Free radicals may be involved in cancers of the lungs,
cervix, skin, stomach, prostate, colon and esophagus. Free radicals also attack blood fats which may lead to heart and blood vessel disease. When the LDL type of cholesterol reacts with free radicals it becomes damaged and this may lead to arteriosclerosis. Unless LDL cholesterol becomes damaged it does not seem to be harmful. Thus the damaging of LDL cholesterol is a critical link between high blood cholesterol and the build-up of vessel-blocking plaques. Arteriosclerosis is the major
cause of hardening of the arteries and therefore of heart attacks.
Levels of another type of cholesterol, known as HDL cholesterol,
which may protect against cardiovascular disease, may be lowered by
free radical activity. Free radicals can also damage cellular
enzymes. The processes which depend on these enzymes slow or stop,
leading to cell damage and death. Dormant enzymes can also be
activated and this can result in tissue damage. |
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| Free radicals may be involved in the inflammatory response seen in rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. | Free radicals may also damage sperm causing infertility and birth defects. They may also be involved in ulcers and other digestive tract disorders, liver damage and reduced resistance to infection and disease. | ||||||||||
| Antioxidants and the aging process | Evidence is growing that free radicals are an underlying cause
of aging as the biological markers of the process are the same as
those caused by free radical damage. As the mitochondria are where
most of the oxygen reactions in the cell occur, they may be the
most susceptible to damage by free radicals. It has been suggested
that the rate of damage, and therefore aging, in mitochondria may
determine how long a person lives. The ability of antioxidants to reduce this damage explains their possible role in slowing the aging process. Research into chemicals which could slow the damage to mitochondria without decreasing energy production is in the early stages but it is expected to increase. Due to their effects on mitochondria and other elements such as cell membranes and genetic material, free radicals may aggravate the breakdown and sagging of tissues and deterioration of bodily organs involved in the aging process. Many diseases commonly associated with aging, including cancer, heart disease and psychological disorders, appear to be prevented. |
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| High levels of antioxidants also increase the effectiveness of the immune system, making older people less susceptible to life-threatening infections. | Experiments with aging animals show that the effectiveness of the body's antioxidant system decreases with age, possibly because of reduced dietary intake, absorption or increased nutrient needs. A steady supply of antioxidant vitamins and minerals should enhance the body's natural defense mechanisms and improve the quality and length of life. | ||||||||||
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Medical College of Wisconsin Free Radical Research Center Long Term Goals -
To promote translational research in free radical-mediated diseases at the Medical College of Wisconsin and neighboring institutes. To understand the mechanism of action of antioxidants (i.e., agents that scavenge or inhibit free radical formation) in human disease. To develop therapeutic interventions in free radical based disease processes. To develop and share a comprehensive knowledge base in all aspects of free radical reactions and free radical scavengers in basic and clinical research. To develop the capability of non-invasive imaging of free radicals in diseases using animal models. |
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