SHANA ANTIOXIDANT

JACKSON
FUNCTION
WHAT IS AN ANTIOXIDANT?
 Important role in preventing cell damage caused by
free radicals.
 Sources include fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
 Can protect yourself from possible cell damage
resulting in cancer, heart disease and other diseases.
 Uses certain vitamins & minerals to function
properly.
 Free radicals – An unstable molecule that has an
unequal pair of electrons.
 Can be produced during cell metabolism, smoking
tobacco, air pollution, UV light, certain drugs.
 Can cause damage to nearby cells if not stabilized.
 Cell damage can be severe if free radical continues to
take electrons from healthy cells.
DAMAGE FROM FREE
RADICALS MAY AFFECT:

 Protein – Amino acid

 DNA – Mitochondrial DNA
 Lipids - Polysaturated fatty
acid
 VITAMIN A
(B-CAROTENE)
 Beta carotene is a type of
carotenoid that works as an
antioxidant.
 Prevents cells from becoming
damaged by oxidative stress.
 Has ability to react and quench
free radical reactions in lipid
membranes.
 Red, orange and yellow
pigments.
 Source of Vitamin A.
VITAMIN E
 Important part of body's antioxidant network.
 Helps prevent further cell damage caused by
free radicals by stabilizing the free radical.
 Works in lipid filled areas to stop lipid
peroxidation.
 Donates an electron to lipid radical before cell
membrane is further destroyed.
 Vit E must be generated by reducing agent (vit
c) to continue working
 Fat soluble properties in vit E are beneficial in
protecting cell membranes from oxidative
damage.
VITAMIN C

 Works well with vitamin E, by regenerating and

allowing to function again.
 Electron donor functioning as water soluble
antioxidant.
 Ascorbic acid is a reducing agent and can be used
to neutralize ROS
MINERAL: COPPER & ZINC

 Main role of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase enzyme system is to catalyze the conversion of a potentially toxic
anion, to hydrogen peroxide, a less toxic substance.
 Superoxide is produced during metabolism and contributes to oxidative damage.
 Superoxide dismutase is used to convert superoxide (toxic) to a no toxic substance of hydrogen peroxide and
dioxygen.
 "Dismutase" reaction indicates when one substance is being oxidized the other substance is being reduced
(Cu,Zn)
MINERAL

Selenium Manganese
 Thiore Reductase – Acts as an electron donor for  Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
regeneration of antioxidant.
 Functions like Cu and Zn by preventing lipid
 Glutathione peroxidase enzymes helps prevent lipid oxidation.
peroxidation, cell membrane damage.
 Able to destroy free radicals
REFERENCES

 Antioxidants: In Depth. (2013). NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/antioxidants-in-depth

 Antioxidants - Better Health Channel. (2020b). Better Health.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
 Office of Dietary Supplements - Vitamin E. (2021). Vitamin E. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-
HealthProfessional/
 NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. (2010). National Library of Medicine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/