The sesame of all moles.
Oxidative stress is a biological process that can affect the human body in various ways. It occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to detoxify them and repair the resulting damage. This can have a negative impact on health in several aspects. It is difficult to find a single disease, particularly a chronic one, that does not present with oxidative stress at the same time. That is why recognizing it and treating it effectively becomes an important task for every health professional.
Oxidative stress occurs when ROS exceed the body's ability to neutralize them. The 2 main causes for its development are:
- Excessive ROS production: ROS are generated in the body during normal metabolic processes, such as cellular respiration and the breakdown of food. They can also be generated in response to external factors, such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation, environmental pollution, and smoking.
- Antioxidant deficiency: The body has natural antioxidant defense mechanisms to neutralize ROS. This includes antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin E. These antioxidants help counteract oxidative stress, but levels of these compounds often decline due to increased demand related to lifestyle, environmental toxins, medications, etc., and also due to nutritional deficiencies of certain key elements for their production.
ROS produce their damage through some well-known mechanisms:
- Damage to cells and DNA: Oxidative stress can damage cells and the genetic material (DNA) within them. ROS can interact with cell membranes and cellular structures, causing structural and functional damage. In addition, DNA can undergo mutations due to oxidation, which can increase the risk of diseases such as cancer.
- Aging: Oxidative stress has been linked to premature aging. As we age, the body’s ability to neutralize ROS decreases, which can lead to an accumulation of oxidative damage and contribute to the aging process.
- Chronic diseases: Oxidative stress has been implicated in a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's), and lung disease, among others. ROS can damage arteries, contribute to chronic inflammation, and negatively affect organs and systems in the body.
- Inflammation: Oxidative stress and inflammation are closely related. ROS can trigger inflammatory responses in the body, and inflammation in turn can increase ROS production. This interaction may contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases.
To stop and reverse oxidative stress there are effective and well-defined strategies that must be implemented. The first would be to avoid the production of ROS in the body as well as avoiding factors that induce it such as carbonized foods, toxic substances, alcohol, smoking, intense physical exercise, among others. The second is to strengthen the general antioxidant defense system of the body; For this purpose we have 2 paths, one is to stimulate the enzymes that participate in it through natural substances and lifestyle factors such as diet; the second, a little faster, is to supplement the key substances that directly participate in sequestering free radicals and eliminating them from the body. Some of these substances such as Vit C (ascorbate) and Vit E (tocopherols) are well known. However, today we will talk about 2 not so well known and the most important for the antioxidant response, N-Acetyl Cysteine and Alpha Lipoic Acid.
N Acetyl Cysteine
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a modified form of the amino acid cysteine, which is a key component of glutathione. Glutathione is an essential antioxidant that helps protect our cells from oxidative damage and is involved in the detoxification of harmful substances. To understand how NAC promotes glutathione synthesis, it is important to know the metabolic pathway involved. Here is the simplified process:
- Step 1: NAC is broken down in the body into cysteine, which is an essential component of glutathione.
- Step 2: Cysteine combines with two other amino acids, glutamine and glycine, to form a glutathione molecule.
Glutathione synthesis is not limited to amino acids alone. It also involves important cofactors that are necessary for the process to work properly:
- Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is an essential cofactor in glutathione synthesis. It helps convert cysteine into a form that can be used in glutathione production.
- Selenium: Selenium is another essential mineral that plays an important role in the activity of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which helps recycle oxidized glutathione back to its active form.
Several factors can interfere with the glutathione synthesis process such as Nutrient deficiency ( cysteine, glutamine, glycine, vitamin B6 or selenium), Disease and stress ( type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic infections), Toxicity due to exposure to environmental toxins such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals and Age since glutathione levels tend to decrease with age, which may make it more important to maintain a diet rich in the necessary nutrients and consider NAC supplementation in certain cases.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an important, multi-functional antioxidant that scavenges many of the human body's damaging free radicals. It is often described as a "universal," "ideal," "broad-spectrum," and "metabolic" antioxidant. Its main advantage lies in its ability to dissolve in both lipids and water. If its essential role in health is anything to go by, alpha-lipoic acid could well join the ranks of vitamins C and E as part of the first line of defense against free radicals.
Alpha-lipoic acid, also known as thioctic acid, is a sulfur-containing organic compound that is a crucial coenzyme in several biochemical reactions in mitochondria, the cellular structures responsible for producing energy. In scientific terms, it is classified as an antioxidant coenzyme, meaning it plays a role in protecting cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supported by scientific evidence include:
Antioxidant action : Alpha-lipoic acid acts as an antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals and recycles other antioxidants such as Vit C, E and Glutathione.
Improved insulin sensitivity : Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. This helps cells respond better to insulin and consequently regulate blood sugar levels.
Diabetic neuropathy : There is evidence that alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, reducing pain and promoting remyelination.
Support in neurodegenerative diseases: Although research is ongoing, it has been observed that alpha-lipoic acid has potential in the protection of nerve cells and could be useful in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, among others,
Reducing inflammation : Alpha-lipoic acid has been found to have anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating properties which could be beneficial in chronic inflammatory conditions.
Combating oxidative stress requires a broad perspective that includes recognizing the sources of ROS in order to suppress them, while also addressing free radical saturation with a combination of potent antioxidants that synergize with each other, ideally by directly sequestering ROS and inducing overexpression of the enzymes and cellular processes that control them. Many, if not all, chronic conditions would benefit from such a fundamental approach to optimizing the biological terrain.
References :
- Shimamoto, K., Hayashi, H., Taniai, E., Morita, R., Imaoka, M., Ishii, Y., Suzuki, K., Shibutani, M., & Mitsumori, K. (2011). Antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) supplementation reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated hepatocellular tumor promotion of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) in rats. The Journal of toxicological sciences , 36 (6), 775–786. https://doi.org/10.2131/jts.36.775
- Shay, KP, Moreau, RF, Smith, EJ, Smith, AR, & Hagen, TM (2009). Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biochimica et biophysica acta , 1790 (10), 1149–1160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2009.07.026
- Sies H. (2015). Oxidative stress: a concept in redox biology and medicine. Redox biology , 4 , 180–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2015.01.002
- Najafi, N., Mehri, S., Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2022). Effects of alpha lipoic acid on metabolic syndrome: A comprehensive review. Phytotherapy research : PTR , 36 (6), 2300–2323. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7406
- Poles, J., Karhu, E., McGill, M., McDaniel, H.R., & Lewis, J.E. (2021). The effects of twenty-four nutrients and phytonutrients on immune system function and inflammation: A narrative review. Journal of clinical and translational research , 7 (3), 333–376.
