This informative volume presents a valuable overview of the therapeutic aspects as well as applications of antioxidants. It discusses the basic mechanisms of therapy-based oxidative damage and categorization of nutritional antioxidants and covers the sources of antioxidants as well as their extraction and quantification. The volume considers the controversies of the usefulness or disadvantages of antioxidant supplementation in relation to adaptation and performance and also looks at the effectiveness of bioactives and antioxidant-based therapies for specific health issues, such as anemia, infectious diseases, urinary tract infections, Parkinson’s diseases, and diabetes. The book discusses the sensing of oxidative stress and the effectiveness of antioxidant treatment, followed by an introduction to several biomarkers to estimate the bioefficacy of dietary/supplemental antioxidants in various forms. Also considered are free radicals that can cause “oxidative stress,” a process that can trigger cell damage, and how antioxidant molecules have been shown to counteract oxidative stress in laboratory experiments.

This book offers a collection of expert reviews on the use of plant-based antioxidant therapies in disease prevention and treatment. Topics discussed include the uses of plant and nutritional antioxidants in the contexts of reproductive health and prenatal development, healthcare and aging, noncommunicable chronic diseases, and environmental pollution. The text is complemented by a wealth of color figures and summary tables.

Antioxidant use in health promotion and disease prevention either through dietary intake or supplementation is controversial. This book reviews the latest evidence-based research in the area, principally through prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. It assesses major dietary antioxidants and discusses their use in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and neurodegenerative and immune diseases. The use of antioxidants in health is also discussed along with common adverse effects associated with antioxidant use.

Twenty years ago, the enzyme superoxide dismutase which uses the superoxide radical anion as its specific substrate was reported. With this discovery was born a new scientific field, in which oxygen, necessary for aerobi c 1 ife on thi s planet, had to be cons i dered also in terms of its toxicity and stresses. This stimulated the search for knowledge of active oxygen species in biology and medicine. Superoxide and other reactive oxygen species are now implicated in many disease processes. Major advances have been achieved during these past years with respect to free radical generation and mechanisms of free radical action in causing tissue injury. In parallel, the possibil ity of influencing free radical related disease processes by antioxidant treatment was studied in various in vitro and in vivo systems. This was the unique theme of a conference organized in Paris by the Society for Free Radical Research (December 9-10, 1988) which brought together experts from basic sciences and clinicians in order to evaluate the current status of antioxidant therapy. The conference emphasized fundamental processes in antioxidant action. Among the major topics were superoxide dismutase (SOD) and low molecular weight substances with such activity, called SOD mimics. Other antioxidant enzymes were also considered. Antioxidant vitamins, in particular vitamins E and C, other naturally occurri ng antioxidants and vari ous synthet i c antioxidants were included in the presentations as there is now a rapidly developing series of compounds with potentially interesting clinical applications.

This informative volume presents a valuable overview of the therapeutic aspects as well as applications of antioxidants. It discusses the basic mechanisms of therapy-based oxidative damage and categorization of nutritional antioxidants and covers the sources of antioxidants as well as their extraction and quantification. The volume considers the controversies of the usefulness or disadvantages of antioxidant supplementation in relation to adaptation and performance and also looks at the effectiveness of bioactives and antioxidant-based therapies for specific health issues, such as anemia, infectious diseases, urinary tract infections, Parkinson’s diseases, and diabetes. The book discusses the sensing of oxidative stress and the effectiveness of antioxidant treatment, followed by an introduction to several biomarkers to estimate the bioefficacy of dietary/supplemental antioxidants in various forms. Also considered are free radicals that can cause “oxidative stress,” a process that can trigger cell damage, and how antioxidant molecules have been shown to counteract oxidative stress in laboratory experiments.

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are a growing problem across the world’s aging population. Oxidative stress in the brain plays a central role in a common pathophysiology of these diseases. This book presents scientific research on the potential of antioxidant therapy in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. This book outlines the roles of oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus in neurodegeneration, describes the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders including the roles of environmental pollutants and inflammatory responses, and explores mitochondrial dysfunction. It then describes the protective abilities of antioxidants – including vitamin D, tocotrienol and coenzyme Q10 – against neurodegeneration. The book demonstrates the therapeutic potential of ketogenic diets, and highlights the roles of medicinal plants, phytopharmaceuticals, traditional medicines and food nutrients in neuroprotection. Key Features: Explains damage caused by numerous neurodegenerative disorders and the possible protection offered by antioxidants and functional foods. Describes molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration by oxidative stress, advancing age, diabetes and mitochondrial dysfunctions. Demonstrates protection offered by nutraceuticals, antioxidants, botanical extracts and functional foods. The book contains twenty-three chapters divided into six sections written by leading researchers. This book is essential reading for health professionals, dietitians, food and nutrition scientists and anyone wanting to improve their knowledge of etiology of neurodegenerative diseases.

The role of antioxidants and other nutritional agents in disease prevention is a widely discussed subject, attracting attention from professionals in all areas of medicine. This often-debated and rapidly evolving area of medicine could have important implications for how diseases are treated.