Resumen

BENITEZ ZEQUEIRA, Daniel Eugenio. Antioxidant vitamins and oxidoreductases: a defense against oxidative stress. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2006, vol.25, n.2. ISSN 0864-0300.

A review that includes morphological and functional aspects of oxidant and antioxidant agents, as well as the biochemical mechanisms involving them in the antioxidant defense of the body was made. Oxidative stress is known as the morbid effects due to the unbalance between the action of oxidant agents on the cells and the antioxidant response. Oxidant agents can be exogenous (drugs and poisons) and endogenous (like the Reactive Oxygen Species and lipid peroxides). On the other hand, the antioxidant complement of the human organism has also both external  and internal members. Among the first ones there are antioxidant vitamins and minerals, such as iron and selenium, which have come into the cell as part of food or as a diet supplement. Oxidoreductase hemoenzymes and intermediary metabolites as gluthatione are internally found. Many pathological processes as nosological entities per se are accompanied with oxidative stress and are expressed in the peroxidation of biomembranes and in the subsequent apoptosis, which may lead to cellular death.

Palabras clave : Oxidative stress; hemoenzymes; lipoperoxides; free radicals; antioxidant vitamins.

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