Antioxidants

Oxidation
Chemical rx in which atoms
lose electrons
May result in free radical
formation
Structure of Atoms
Atom: the smallest unit of matter.

Atoms are composed of
Nucleus positively charged center portion
of the atom
Electrons negatively charged particles
surrounding the nucleus
Oxidation
Molecules are composed of atoms.

During metabolic reactions, electrons can
be transferred
From the atoms of one molecule
To the atoms of another molecule
Oxidation
Oxidation
Oxidation: the loss of electrons from a
molecule.

Reduction: the gain of electrons by a
molecule.

Oxidation and reduction usually occur
together as an exchange reaction.
Oxidation
Stable atoms contain an even number of
paired electrons.

Free radical: an atom that has lost an
electron and is left with an unpaired electron.

Free radicals are highly reactive and can
cause damage to molecules in the cell.
Free Radicals and Diseases
Antioxidants
Substances that are able to neutralize
reactive molecules and reduce oxidative
damage
Result of metabolic processes and
environmental sources
Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene,
Vitamin A, selenium, iron, zinc, copper
and manganese
Vitamin E
Functions: Anti-oxidant
Guards against damage to membranes from
oxidizing compounds
Deficiency: Rare (premature infants under
3.5 pounds, people unable to absorb fat or
metabolize fat properly
Suppresses the immune system because
vitamin E protects White Blood Cells


Vitamin E
Toxicity: Rare
Sources: Vegetable oils, nuts
and green leafy vegetables,
fortified cereals
There's sweet news about hot
cocoa
Hot cocoa tops red wine and tea in
antioxidants; may be healthier choice
More antioxidants per cup than a similar serving of
red wine or tea
per serving basis, the antioxidant concentration in
cocoa was the highest: It was almost 2 times stronger
than red wine, 2-3 times stronger than green tea, and
4-5 times stronger than that of black tea
New research underlines antioxidant activity in
chocolate
Vitamin E tocotrienol shows brain protection
promise
Vitamin C Functions
Collagen Formation
antioxidant
reduce cancer risk
helps absorb iron from food
Reduces risk of colds?????
probably not
Linus Paulings study
NutraIngredients

Vitamin C
Deficiency: called scurvy
poor formation of collagen in blood vessels
weak vessels result in hemorrhages
can be severe and result in lots of blood loss and death
Toxicity: may result in
kidney stones
rebound scurvy
Destruction of B12
Problems with acid/base balance

Vitamin C: RDA 90/75 mg/day
Foods rich in vitamin C:
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice: 124 mg
1 cup canned o.j.: 84 mg
Smokers RDA = +35 mg/day
Some of vitamin C is sacrificed in reducing
the oxidants of cigarette smoke
Vitamin C intake offers protection against
stomach cancer
Beta-Carotene-provitamin
Functions
Weak antioxidant
Enhance immune system
Protect skin and eyes
Deficiency/toxicity

Beta-Carotene-provitamin
No RDA
Sources
Vitamin A Functions
Vision: helps with conversion of light
energy to electrical energy in eye
Cell differentiation-maintenance of linings:
helps produce the CHO normally found in
mucous
Bone growth:
helps with remodeling growing bones



Vitamin A Deficiency
One year supply in fat and liver of most people:
So deficiencies are rare
Bone growth and remodeling problems
shape changes
Linings deteriorate
GI tract: diarrhea
Respiratory tract: infections
urogenital tract: infections, kidney stones
Impaired night vision and day vision

Vitamin A Toxicities
Bones:
decalcification, joint pain
Nervous system
loss of appetite, irritability, muscle weakness
Liver enlargement
jaundice
Blood: RBCs loose hemoglobin
Bleeding induced easily

Beta carotene and Vitamin A
Vitamin A RDA= 700 RE for
females; 900 RE for males.
RE= Retinol Equivalent
Retinol is the active form of vitamin A
Other molecules can be metabolized to make Retinol,
thus retinol equivalents
e.g.: beta carotene can be modified to make retinol
beta carotene is found in carrots and other deep orange and
green vegetables
1 RE= 1 microgram of retinol
1 RE= 3.3 IU retinol
1 RE = 12 micrograms of beta carotene

Selenium
Functions
Antioxidant system
Thyroxine and immune function
Deficiency
Keshan disease
Impaired immune response, cognitive
function, muscle pain, wasting
The Link between Selenium and
Chemoprevention: A Case for Selenoproteins
-- Diwadkar-Navsariwala and Diamond 134
(11): 2899 -- Journal of Nutrition
Selenium RDA 55 mg/day
Sources
Nuts
Seafood
Pasta

Disorders related to Oxidation
Cancer - Definitions
Cancer: uncontrolled growth and spread of
abnormal cells
Tumor: mass of cancer cells
benign tumor (non-harmful, non-invasive)
malignant tumor (harmful, invasive)
Metastatic Cancer: spreading
Cancer Facts
US men have a 1 in 2 lifetime risk
US women have a 1 in 3 lifetime risk
1,220,000 new malignant cancer cases in
2000
552,000 cancer deaths in 2000
Cancer the Top Killer for Those Under
85 Jan 20, 2005

Cancer Trends
JNCI, 1999
1990-1996
All cancer incidence declined by
2.2%
-4.1% males
-0.5% females
USATODAY.com - Cancer deaths
lowest in 7 decades
US Mortality, 2000
Source: US Mortality Public Use Data Tape 2000, National Center for Health Statistics,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002.

1. Heart Diseases 710,760 29.6

2. Cancer 553,091 23.0

3. Cerebrovascular diseases 167,661 7.0

4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 122,009 5.1

5. Accidents (Unintentional injuries) 97,900 4.1

6. Diabetes mellitus 69,301 2.9

7. Influenza and Pneumonia 65,313 2.7

8. Alzheimers disease 49,558 2.1

9. Nephritis 37,251 1.5

10. Septicemia 31,224 1.3
Rank Cause of Death
No. of deaths % of all deaths
2004 Estimated US Cancer Deaths*
ONS=Other nervous system.
*Excludes basal and squamous cell skin cancers and in situ carcinomas except urinary bladder.
Source: American Cancer Society, 2003.
Men
285,900
Women
270,600
25% Lung & bronchus
15% Breast
10% Colon & rectum
6% Pancreas
6% Ovary
4% Leukemia
3% Non-Hodgkin
lymphoma
3% Uterine corpus
2% Brain/ONS
2% Multiple myeloma
Lung & bronchus 32%
Prostate 10%
Colon & rectum 10%
Pancreas 5%
Leukemia 5%
Non-Hodgkin 4%
lymphoma
Esophagus 4%
Liver/intrahepatic 3%
bile duct
Urinary bladder 3%
Kidney 3%

The Cancer Development Process
Initiation
Alterations in DNA
minutes - days
Causes:
radiation
chemical carcinogens
viruses
The Cancer Development Process
Promotion
locking DNA alterations
failure of DNA repair
mechanisms
months - years

The Cancer Development Process
Cancer Progression
Uncontrolled growth of cancer
cells
malignancy and metastasis
weeks to years
Cancer Development
http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih1/cancer/activities/activity2_animations.htm
Diet and Cancer Development
Initiation
Dietary sources of carcinogens
aflatoxin mold from peanuts
benzopyrene from charbroiled meats
nitrosamine from cured meats
AICR Press Corner - Recent News
Protection
phytochemicals
antioxidants
dietary fiber
Study will assess effect of tomato oil on precancerous prostate
changes
Diet and Cancer Development
Promotion
Fat and PUFA
excess alcohol
Progression
excess Fat and calories
Alaska Journal of Commerce Online
Diet and Cancer
ACS 2000
One third of cancer deaths in US is
due to cigarette smoking
One third of cancer deaths in US is
due to diet
5-10% of cancers are hereditary
NutraIngredients
1999 ACS Dietary Guidelines
Choose most of the foods you eat
from plant sources.
Five A DayHealthy fruit and veg compounds
being lost in processing
low in fat and calories
high in folic acid, vitamin C, beta-carotene
high in fiber
high in phytochemicals
ABC News: Turn to Tomatoes for Prostate
Health
FOXNews.com - Health - Vitamin D May
Lower Some Cancer Risk
Trends in Consumption of Recommended
Vegetable and Fruit Servings (5 or more) for
Cancer Prevention, Adults 18 and Older, US, 1994-
2000
* Includes fewer than 50 states and the District of Columbia. All other prevalences include the 50 states and District
of Columbia.
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001.
Prevalence (%)
22
24 24
23
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1994*
1996 1998
2000
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Risk factors
Smoking
Hypertension
High LDL
Obesity
Sedentary life style
Nutrition Notes: How to fight inflammation -
Nutrition Notes - MSNBC.com


CVD and Antioxidants
Scavengers
Donates electrons
Reduction of inflammation
Enhances immune system
Reduction of blood coagulation
Vision impairment
Macular degeneration
Promising results
Cataracts
Mixed results