Antioxidant Flashcards

1
Q

Diabetes the cost

A
  • Ten years loss of life expectancy
  • Last 10 years beset by complications
  • CV, renal, ocular, neurological problem- microvasculature is seriously damaged
  • All impact quality of life
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2
Q

Standard advice to avoid this horror

A
  • Maintain glucose levels between 4-7mM
  • Do this for decades
  • No backsliding
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3
Q

What about antioxidants then

A
  • The next slide shows the official advice given by the DOH on antioxidant usage in diabetes
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4
Q

Why do diabetics suffer complications

A
  • Diabetic tissues wear out faster than non-diabetic tissues
  • Results in major cellular, tissue and organ failure
  • Yes, I know that but what are the mechanisms behind it
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5
Q

Normal cellular function

A
  • All cells generate reactive species (radicals, superoxide, singlet oxygen, OH radicals) through normal function (mitochondria, P-450’s)
  • All cells have evolved protective mechanisms to ensure these reactive species do not damage cells
  • These systems include superoxide disumtase, catalase and the system
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6
Q

Superoxide dismutase

A
  • Converts superoxide to oxygen, can hydrogen peroxide in the process
  • A copper/Zinc based version is cytoplasmic a managese version in mitochondial
  • Found in all tissues
  • Serveral variants
    *
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7
Q

SOD1

A
  • Mutations on SOD1 linked with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
  • Mutant SOD fails to remove superoxide which induces neuronal apoptosis
  • Wild-type enzyme appears to maintain the solubility of mutant forms
  • This causes the progression of ALS
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8
Q

Catalase

A
  • Catalase converts hydrogen peroxide from metabolic processes to oxygen and water
  • Hydrogen peroxide is a problem chemical species as it can move through membranes
  • Catalase is a haemoprotein found in the peroxisome
  • Catalase also attenuates some toxins through peroxidation reactions
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9
Q

Catalase: characteristics

A
  • Expectionally stable tetramers, resistant to pH and protesases
  • They are REDOX enzymes, their haem iron is oxidised by one molecule of hydrogen peroxid ; the oxyferryl species is reduced by another hydrogen peroxide forming water and oxygen and regenerating the enzyme
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10
Q

Control of antioxidant systems

A
  • GSH (Cysteine, glycine and glutamate)
  • GSH is a thiol
  • The oil in the engine
  • Thiols repair and prevent change in structure so preserving function
  • Thiol levels must not fall or oxidative damage outstrips repair
  • Protective enzymes rely on GSH
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11
Q

GSH

A
  • GSH can quench reactive species itself
  • GSH peroxidase/Transferase accelerate this process
  • Cells must maintain >95% GSH as thiol
  • GSSG is spent catridge
  • GSH formed de novo and recycles as well
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12
Q

GSH Synthesis

A
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13
Q

GSH

A
  • Has more than 30 known cellular functions
  • Quenches cellular toxins GSH reacts and quenches, forming GS which reacts with another GS. forming GSSG
  • Re-reduces spent antioxidants e.g. dehydroascorbate converted to ascorbate
  • Maintains many anti-oxidants like a car alternator
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14
Q

Oxidative stress

A
  • Net imbalance between oxidants and their attenuation’s
  • GSH maintained in levels proportionate to demand
  • Liver? Erythrocyte?
  • GSH circulation levels
  • Shall we buy some
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15
Q

Diabetes- net toxic effects

A
  • Diabetes must deal with normal cellular oxidant attrition
  • Diabetics exposed to high glucose levels
  • Glucose forms toxic species AGE
  • Defence mechanisms compromised
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16
Q

Polyol pathway

A
  • Cells sense high glucose
  • They try to convert it to sorbitol by using aldose reductase
  • This removes the glucose
  • It uses reducing power, which could be used to propel antioxidant systems
17
Q

Comparisons

A
  • Normal face one threat, reactive species
  • Diabetics triple threat: normal reactive species, AGE’s and damaged response mechanisms
  • Result tissue wear
18
Q

Role of antioxidants

A
  • Antioxidants (lipid acid, vit E, C) can reduce damage to diabetic systems
  • How much to use
  • How often
  • which combinations
  • My research, 200mg Vit E, 250mg Vit C, 90mg Lipoic acid
  • N-acetyl cysteine is good too
19
Q

Anti-oxidants: who else needs them

A
  • Most people with a balance diet dont
  • Anti-oxidants/vitamins are better absorbed in food (per manufacturers setting)
  • It’s like motor oil additive
  • Who needs supplements
20
Q

Major beneficiaries

A
  • Diabetics
  • Old people with poor diet
  • Alcoholics
  • Pregnant women
  • Oxidative stress disease
  • Statin taker
  • Everyone else is wasting their money
21
Q

Major Antioxidant system: GSH

A
  • GSH (Cysteine, glycine and glutamate)
  • GSH is a thiol
  • The oil in the engine
  • Thiols repair and prevent change in structure so preserving function
  • Thiol levels must not fall or oxidative damage outstrips repair
  • Protective enzymes rely on GSH