Anit-Oxidants And Aging
...molecules. Oxidation is a type of chemical reaction in which oxygen is added to a particular element or compound. It can produce what are known as free radicals. Free radicals are atomic molecules with unpaired electrons. Free radicals are usually highly reactive and play a role in many chemical reactions such as combustion, atmospheric chemistry, polymerization, plasma chemistry, biochemistry, and human physiology. Human physiology is the study of the physical and biochemical functions of the body. This paper examines the physical function of aging and its correlation with the biochemical function caused by antioxidants.
Aging is a physical process that can be altered by environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle. There are many theories that try to explain why and how we age. Among them, is what is known as the free radical theory of aging. This theory states that organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage with the passage of time. (Harman, 1956)
Free radicals are the by-products of what happens when oxygen is metabolized. They are also produced in response to toxins or trauma. By nature, these molecules look for a partner to bond with and attract the nearest stable molecule to capture its electron. When that stable molecule loses its electron, it then becomes a free radical, initiating a chain reaction that results in the disruption of a living cell. (Borak, 1999) Some free radicals are important for certain biological processes such as the intracellular killing of bacteria by neutrophil granulocytes. Free radicals have also been implicated in certain cell signaling processes. (Pacher, 2007) The most important oxygen-centered free radicals are superoxide, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide. They are derived from molecular oxygen under reducing conditions such as rigorous exercise and from exposure to pollutants, radiation, UV light and...
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